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F E A T U R E S

image On the sea of grass
Colorado ranchers band together to cut cattle-grazing costs
by Coleman Cornelius


Earnings, sales dip from local cooperatives
by Beverly L. Rotan


Minnesota leads nation in co-op business volume
by Charles A. Kraenzle
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Power of peril

California co-ops struggle to cope with the stat's energy crisis
by Catherine Merlo



image Neighborhoods warm to bargaining poer of co-ops
by Tux Turkel


Keep the co-op candle burning
Effective member relations essential to keeping co-op spirit alive
by James Wadsworth

image Critical need seen to broaden, invigorate current
approach to cooperative research

by James Baarda



D E P A R T M E N T S


imageOn the Cover
Alan Pierson contemplates the grim energy picture facing California as he stands outside milk-storage silos at the Land O' Lakes processing plant in Tulare. The plant has experienced numerous power outages, forcing some members to divert milk to animal feed. Photo by Josh Yoshimoto. Full Story







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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