F E A T U R E S

Battening Down the Hatches:
Co-op security measures intensified in post-September 11 world
By John Dewey, Sarah Schmidt, Gail Thuner

Trouble ahead?
Low commodity prices, ag economy are major problems
facing co-op management
By Charles A. Kraenzle, Thomas W. Gray

15 Easy Pieces

South Dakota turnaround
Farmers who once couldn’t give away their co-op find success
through service and slow, steady growth
By Dan Campbell

Getting the green light
CoBank business development officer discusses essential
planning needed to finance an added-value cooperative
By Jeff Kistner with Catherine Merlo

Ask the right questions
Members should probe reasons for co-op conversions, other
major changes
By James Baarda, Randall Torgerson

Adapting to change
Educating members helps smooth transitions
By Jim Wadsworth

D E P A R T M E N T S

COMMENTARY
NEWSLINE






O n t h e C o v e r :
Expanding member business means that these silos at South Dakota’s Valley Springs Farmers Cooperative will soon be bolstered by additional grain storage. This month’s cover story focuses on how this local co-op has rebounded from near failure in the 1960s to become a strong and growing cooperative.
Photo for USDA by Greg Latza

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Ann Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture
Randall Torgerson, Deputy Administrator, USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Dan Campbell, Managing 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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