Rural Cooperatives Magazine January/February 2000 issue











F E A T U R E S


On the Cover:

The sky is the limit - or is it? - as cooperatives enter a new century and a new millennium. What will the future hold? Five experts take a look at issues confronting the co-op movement as we enter a new era. Story on page 7. Illustration by Mike Cressy





Co-ops' share of farm marketings up slightly in '98
Charles Kraenzle

Co-ops in the 21st century
Five writers view what lies a head for co-ops in the new century
R. Torgerson, E. Eversull, G. English, C. Snyder, P. Hazen

Seeing the forest for its trees
Cooperatives promote sustainable forestry and tap green trends
Pamela J. Karg

New model, old ways
Wisconsin farmers find new life serving burgeoning organic markets
Pamela J. Karg

Asset growth for largest co-ops shows resilience to declining revenues
David S. Chesnick

Depressed ag sector puts squeeze on largest co-ops
David S. Chesnick



D E P A R T M E N T S


COMMENTARY
A CLOSER LOOK AT...
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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

RURAL COOPERATIVES (1088-8845) is published bimonthly by Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of public business required by law of the Department. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC. Copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 20402, at $3.00 domestic, $3.75 foreign; or by annual subscription at $11.00 domestic, $13.75 foreign. Postmaster: send address change to: Rural Cooperatives, USDA/RBS, Stop 3255, Wash., DC 20250-3255. order form

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