This study focuses on first-handlers-of-grain cooperatives for the fiscal years ending in calendar year 1991. It is comparable with studies previously conducted by the Agricultural Cooperative Service covering 1985-86 (ACS Research Report 70), 1982-83 (ACS Research Report 47), and 1979-80 (ACS Research Report 35). The statistics are expanded survey data based on a 43-percent sample of the Nation’s local first-handlers-of-grain cooperatives. The term “cooperative,” as used in this report, refers to local cooperative associations that were first-handlers of grain plus the first-handler operations of regional cooperatives that operated line elevators. The Nation was divided into five regions for this study.
Library ID Number: 2873
Cooperative Grain Marketing: Changes, Issues, and Alternatives
This study examines the changes experienced by the cooperative grain marketing industry during the past two decades. The different influences and factors that led to these changes are analyzed. Issues currently affecting grain marketing cooperatives which will define the future environment in which they operate are also discussed. Also included is an outline of directions cooperatives can follow to become more competitive.
Research Report 123. 18 pgs. 1994. Marc Warman.
Library ID Number: 2838
Marketing Coordination in Agricultural Cooperatives
This study examines how the use of marketing agreements creates additional elements of marketing coordination between members and their cooperatives. Marketing agreements used in this study include marketing contracts signed with members and bylaw provisions that required members to market with their cooperatives. Type of product marketed and related marketing services had a strong influence on the level of agreements.
Roger A Wissman
Library ID Number: 2791
Economies of Scale and Scope for Agricultural Supply and Marketing Cooperatives
This study estimates scale and scope economies for a sample of multiproduct farm supply and grain marketing local cooperatives. A bootstrapping regression technique is used to estimate confidence intervals for the scale and scope elasticities. Strong support is found for firm-wide economies of scale. In addition, product-specific economies of scale are present for grain, petroleum, feed, and other merchandise sales, and to some extent fertilizer, but not for chemical sales. Scope economies are present for all six products.
Marketing agencies-in-common (MACs) have been used by farmer cooperatives for many years to accomplish specific marketing activities. But little attention has been given to how MACs differ from other organizations, particularly from other federated cooperatives. This report explains how MAC members retain ownership of their individual assets while the common agency produces supplementary services such as group communications and product selling coordination.
Research Report 127. 32 pgs. 1994. Bruce J. Reynolds.
This report clarifies cooperative pooling practices and presents the structural, managerial, financial, and coordination aspects of a successful commodity pooling program. Pooling is a marketing practice distinct to cooperatives and refers to a particular way commodities are marketed. The report focuses on practices in the fruit and vegetable industries although these commodity pools also are found in the nut, rice, and dairy industries.
This report focuses on the legal characteristics of cooperative marketing agreements. The basic legal principles governing marketing contracts are first reviewed. The integral parts that make up a marketing agreement are then examined in detail. Examples of common provisions used in marketing agreements appear throughout the report for purposes of illustration.