Educational Materials

Agricultural Economics 374 Class-Cooperatives

There are four main objectives of this course:

	To develop an understanding of basic principles and unique management, marketing and finance strategies of cooperatives.
	Learning the skill of applying these strategies in relevant environments
	The ability to capitalize on the strengths and minimize weakness of cooperatives.
	To gain a rationale regarding the appropriate role of cooperatives in a market economy

Short Course in Cooperatives

Module 1

These modules offer a short course in cooperative business structures. They are made possible through a grant from the North Dakota Farmers Union and Farmers Education Foundation. The first describes what a co-op is: including examples, why and how other farmers adn other co-op members benefit, and how they are rewarded financially.

Module 2

New Generation Cooperatives (N.G.C.) have added value to crops and livestock produced by farmers and ranchers, especially in Minnesota and the Dakotas. This module explains how the N.G.C. differs from the traditional co-op, the history of the movement that began with American Crystal Sugar in the Red River Valley, and how the concept has spawned other new generation co-ops that produce pasta, bison meat, par-baked bread, eggs, and other products.

Module 3

How to start a New Generation Cooperative explains the steps Bill Patrie, Dakota Cooperative Development Director says are needed to successfully form a N.G.C. The search for champion(s), advisors(s), exploratory meetings, location, feasibility study, legal aspects, equity drive, and more, are outlined.

Module 4

Non-Ag Co-ops highlights the many services and products provided by cooperatives in the world. For instance, 48,000 co-ops generated 150 billion dollars in 1999, serving one third of all Americans. Examples of co-op businesses include: grocery, hardware, finance, housing, utilities, software, childcare, recreation, media news organizations, and medical.