MANAGEMENT TIP
How does your local farm supply co-op rate?
Beverly L. Rotan, Ag Economist,
USDA Rural Development
as your cooperative fared better, about the same
or worse compared to cooperatives with similar
sales, product mix, etc. Comparisons with other
cooperatives using trends and industry norms
may help to determine whether your cooperative is doing
well or poorly.
The two tables below contain average financial data compiled
from a survey of 263 cooperatives for 2003 and 2004.
Fill in the blanks and compare these benchmarks with your
cooperative’s financial data. How’s your cooperative doing?
32 states receive $21 million
in renewable energy grants
USDA Rural Development has
awarded 150 applicants with almost $21
million in grants for renewable energy
and energy efficiency projects in 32
states. “Enhancing America’s energy
independence is at the core of President
Bush’s comprehensive national energy
policy. That makes energy conservation
and clean, renewable sources of domestically
produced energy more important
than ever,” Agriculture Secretary Mike
Johanns said in announcing the grants.
“Renewable energy is also a major
growth area for American farmers and a
top priority for USDA. Energy conservation
and renewable fuels are good for
the environment, the economy, and
farmers’ bottom lines.”
Johanns made the announcement
prior to a Farm Bill Forum in Salt Lake
City that was part of the nationwide listening
tour to gather input from the
public on farm policy.
The renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects involve a wide range
of wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and
conservation technologies. For example,
Wasatch Wind LLC will receive
$500,000 in funding for phase-1 of a
wind energy generation project to be
located at Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah.
Combined with matching funds, the
USDA grant will result in the construction
of a 1.5-megawatt wind generation
tower, the first of 10 towers planned for
the site.
Synthetic Energy, Inc., of Ketchum,
Idaho, will use its grant of $199,863 to
purchase wind turbines to power a commercial
hydrogen generator.
