RBS Rural Cooperative Magazine (January/February 1999 Issue)

Special Issue Celebrating Sixty-Five Years of Cooperative Progress

Magazine Overview
For 65 years, USDA's magazine has helped guide co-op movement

The 1930s
Cooperatives help farmers survive the Great Depression and position themselves for new marketing opportunities

The 1940s
Co-ops help supply U.S. war effort; modernize operations rapidly during post-war era

The 1950s
Co-op brands gain market share; livestock, tobacco, cotton co-ops expand

The 1960s
Trend toward fewer, larger farms means major changes for co-ops

The 1970s
Co-ops embrace new technologies and structures to maintain owner control

The 1980s
Mergers, consolidations change look of U.S. cooperatives

The 1990s
Hallmarks of the 1990s: Merger-mania and co-op fever

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.
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Mention in RURAL COOPERATIVES of company and brand names does not signify endorsement over other companies' products and services Unless otherwise stated, contents of this publication are not copyrighted and may be reprinted freely. For noncopyrighted articles, mention of source will be appreciated but is not required.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten building, 14th and Independence SW, Washington D.C. 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture

Jill Long Thompson, Under Secretary, Rural Development

Dayton J. Watkins, Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Randall Torgerson, Deputy Administrator, RBS Cooperative Services

Patrick Duffy, Editor

Dan Campbell, Executive Editor

George Avalos & Pete Manzelli, Design

Have a cooperative-related question?
Call:   202/720-6483
FAX: 202/720-4641, Information Director