FEATURES


New days, new ways
Co-ops, producers find many ways to prepare for the future
By Robert Heuer

Congressional hearing focuses on possible need
for more flexible co-op business model
By Dan Campbell

Dismantling of Farmland continues; Smithfield
buying pork business
By Patrick Duffey

Survey results: public shows strong preference
for doing business with cooperatives
By Patrick Duffey

Revenue, margins trend downward for nation’s
top 100 ag cooperatives
By David Chesnick

Co-ops follow more than one path for
nominating board candidates
By Bruce J. Reynolds

Seeking the best
Director leadership: what does it take?
By Jim Wadsworth

Cooperative exports decline in 2001; bulk sales
fall but continue to dominate sector
By Tracey L. Kennedy


DEPARTMENTS

COMMENTARY
VALUE-ADDED CORNER
NEWSLINE
2003 ARTICLE INDEX
Stuff


On the Cover:
Grain rolls in at Western Iowa Cooperative’s 600,000-bushel elevator, from
where much of it will be shipped to California livestock operations. Learn
more about how it and other cooperatives have restructured for success.
Photo by Larry Laszlo





Ann Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture
Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary, USDA Rural Development
John Rosso,Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service
James Haskell, Acting Deputy Administrator, USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Dan Campbell, Editor
Vision Integrated Marketing/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 $21 per year. Postmaster: send address change to: Rural Cooperatives, USDA/RBS, Stop 3255, Wash., DC 20250-3255.

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, sex, 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 Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.