FEATURES
Picking up the Pieces
Co-op aid helping other co-ops recover
from ravages of Hurricane Katrina
By Donna Abernathy
Prairie Prosperity
From biofuels to buffalo bullion, Minnesota
town cooperates to boost rural business
By Stephen Thompson
IT having major impact on
farmer-owned ethanol plants
By Anthony Crooks and John Dunn
Do bigger ethanol plants
mean fewer farmer benefits?
By David Morris
Expanded database vital
for future co-op research
By Dan Campbell
Sales and net income climb
for local farm co-ops in 2004
By Beverly L. Rotan
Bioenergy, dairy producers among
recipients of $14.6 million in VAPGs
USDA providing $7 million
for rural co-op development
Co-op Heritage Day declared
to mark TFC's 60th anniversary
DEPARTMENTS
COMMENTARY
VALUE-ADDED CORNER
NEWSLINE
2005 ARTICLE INDEX
INSIDE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
On the Cover:
Stairways spiral up and around fuel tanks at the SoyMor biodiesel plant, near
Albert Lea, Minn., which is also home to an ethanol plant. The biofuels industry
continues to expand throughout the nation’s corn- and soybean-belt. See
pages 10, 15 and 20 of this issue. USDA photo by Stephen Thompson
Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture
Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary, USDA Rural Development
Peter Thomas, Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Roberta D. Purcell, 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 $23 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, 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 Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD), USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
