FEATURES

 Peach growers cling to association
CCPA assumes greater role in helping industry manage supply, avoid pitfalls. By Pamela J. Karg


     Co-ops' share of farm market, major cash expenditures down in '99
     By Charles Kraenzle



Sweet and sour
Surgar cooperatives restructure to combat foreign threats, low prices.
By Pamela J. Karg


A critical look at new-generation cooperatives
By Randall Torgerson


     Financial performance declines for largest ag co-ops in '99
     By David Chesnick


EdVisions
Minnesota teacher's co-op serves rural charter schools
By Katherine L. Hanson


DEPARTMENTS

 COMMENTARY
NEWSLINE





Ann Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture

Randall Torgerson, Deputy Administrator, USDA, Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Dan Campbell, Managing Editor

Pamela J. Karg, Field Editor

Vision 2000/Kota, Design

Have a cooperative-related question?
Call (202) 720-6483, or
Fax (202) 720-4641, Information Director,


RURAL COOPERATIVES (1088-8845) is published bimonthly by Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Stop 0705, Washington, DC. 20250-0705 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. and additional mailing offices. Copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 20402, at $3.50 domestic, $4.38 foreign; or by annual subscription at $15.00 domestic, $18.75 foreign. Postmaster: send address change to: Rural Cooperatives, USDA/RBS, Stop 3255, Wash., DC 20250-3255. order form

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