Rural Cooperative Magazine Issue November/December 1999

On the Cover:
President Clinton praised Hermitage Tomato Co-op Association President Randy Clanton and hisfellow co-op membersfor helping to revive the fortunes of Hermitage, Arkansas. The president used the co-op's packing house for the latest stop on his "New Markets Initiative" tour, designed to show the importance of investing in depressed rural areas. Stoiy on page 4. USDA photo Anson Eaglin
President Clinton hails co-ops as engine for rural progress
Arkansas totmato co-op breathes new life into dying rural town
Pamela J. Karg
Supply cooperatives' income slides downward
Beverly Rotan
Bridging the gap
USDA spotlights DLT technology to mark 50th anniverary of telecommunications program
Pamela Karg
Organizing for the future
Browntown: small co-op with big plans
Bill Tarperming
Thumbs up
Michigan soybean farmers keeping value at home with new-generation cooperative
Laura Moser
Sales rebound for largest farmer co-ops, but net margins decline
David S. Chesnick
D E P A R T M E N T S
COMMENTARY
A CLOSER LOOK AT...
MANAGEMENT TIP
NEWSLINE
Jill Long Thompson, Under Secretary, Rural Development
Dayton J. Watkins, Administrator, Rural
Business-Cooperative Service
La Jaycee Brown, Director, Public Affairs & Legislative Staff
Dan Campbell, Managing Editor
USDA Design Center, Design
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