Projects
Agricultural and Food Cooperatives in Rural Development
This June 2004 conference, Agricultural and Food Cooperatives in Rural Development: Implications of Business Dynamics for Public Policy, examined the successes and failures of cooperatives in recent years, explored roles that cooperative businesses might play in rural development, and initiated a dialogue on possible changes to federal cooperative policies.
Policymakers, industry representatives, economists and other experts from across the country participated in the conference, which was sponsored by Farm Foundation and USDA’s Economic Research Service.
A program summary is available and presentations are available below:
| Welcome | Mary Bohman,USDA’s Economic Research Service |
| Keynote Speaker | Chad Moutray, Chief Economist, Office of Advocacy, U.S. Small Business Administration Cooperatives and Rural Development in Context: Small Business Dynamics in Rural and Urban America |
| Session One | The Promise of Cooperatives: Strengths and Conditions Conducive to Cooperative Formation Timothy Wojan, ERS, Chair Joan Fulton, Purdue University When Do Cooperatives Work? Steven Buccola and Robin Cross, Oregon State University Cooperative and Investor-Owned Structures in a Risky Economic Environment David P. Swanson, Dorsey & Whitney, LLP The Role of Federal and State Policy in the Formation and Success of Cooperative Businesses |
| Session Two | Successful Cooperatives Steven Buccola, Oregon State University, Chair Jeffrey B. Stroburg,West Central Cooperative Stephen R. Wright, Pro-Fac Cooperative Inc. Dennis Bolling, United Producers Inc. |
| Session Three | Challenges Cooperatives Face in Dynamic Markets and Their Strategic Alternatives Robert Cropp, University of Wisconsin, Chair Michael Boland, Kansas State University Governance and Outside Equity Issues Facing Cooperatives Peter D. Goldsmith, University of Illinois Competing in the Global Agri-Food System: A Buy-Side Perspective Mark J. Hanson, Lindquist & Vennum Challenges Arising From Legal Restrictions on Cooperatives |
| Session Four | Case Studies of Failed or Struggling Cooperatives Michael Boland, Kansas State University, Chair Richard Sexton, University of California, Davis The Bankruptcy of Tri-Valley Growers Kimberly A. Zeuli, University of Wisconsin Transforming the Cooper |