Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-03-05
Farmers Urged
to Cooperate
Better to Start Right Than
Later Be Compelled to
Reorganize or Fail.

prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture.)
Farmers are being urged by the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture that in forming cooperative mar
keting organizations careful considera-.
ton be given the economic need for
such organizations, and that the adj
vice of competent cooperative market
Ing experts be sought. There are thou
sands Of successful marketing organi-
cations In the United States, but there
are also numerous failures where aSsO-
Citations have not been founded on
fundamental economic principles. 1t
is better to start right than later to be
compelled to reorganize or possibly
fail, the department points out.
Studies by the department of more
than 10000 cooperative organizations
now in existence, and which comprise
approximately 20 per cent of all such
associations In the United States en-
phasize the fact that success In CO.
operative marketing cannot be won
overnight These organizations, some
of which have been in existence more
than 20 years have at times been put
to severe tests, but through loyal mem
bership, Singleness of purpose, and
businesslike management have wealth
cred the recurring storms of economic
conditions.
History of Cooperation.
The history Of agricultural co-opera-
ton in the United States runs back to
the Civil war; The first cheese fac
tory was established in 1868, and the
first organization of fruit and vege-
table growers in 1887. Two organiza-
lions of grain growers were formed in
1887, followed in 1890 by an organiza-
ton Of live stock raisers. The move
ment developed slowly and over long
period of years while these and other
pioneers were putting their theories
into actual practice. Other associa-
tons were established and the prin-
ciples Of sound cooperative methods
were demonstrated until in 1900 there
were several thousand farmers Or
CARNATIONS in existence.
The movement was given great i'm.
petus during the next 20 years. BY
1905 numerous grain organizations had
been formed and each year saw an
increasing number of grain growers
banding together to market their COM
modify. Live stock organizations we're
also formed in increasing numbers
during the next Is years, until in 1920
the peak of the movement in all COM
modities was reached. More than 800
organizations now in existence and
reporting to the department were
formed in 1919; in 1920 there were es-
tablished 973 associations now func-
tioning, and in 1921 there we're or
ganized 776 associations The years
1929 saw the formation Of state
wide cotton and tobacco organizations
Number Of Organizations
The total number of farmers or
ganizations in the United States Is
now in excess of $4,000 with mem
bership Of about 100000 farmers, and
doing an annual business of more than
$2,5OO,OOO,OOO Seventy per cent of all
the associations are in the 12 North
Central states, which states include. the
great corn and wheat producing areas.
Six per cent Of the organizations are
in the three Pacific Coast states.
There has been an increase Of nearly
200 per cent in the number of asSO-
Citations since 1915, according to the
departments record; the membership
has increased 800 per cent, and the
estimated amount Of business has in
creased 200 per cent as measured In
dollars.
The local associations were the first
historically and are still the most nu-
merous, the department says. They
are created by farmers of a single
community to perform services which
can well be performed near the pro-
ducing areas. Primarily these func-
lions are assembling farm products
and preparing them for market.
About fifty declarations of local or
CARNATIONS are reported as now func-
tioning in the United States. These
declarations determine policies regard
ing Standardization of products and
the preparation or products Tor enter
ing the channels of trade. They usu-
ally develop and handle the advertis-
ing and selling campaigns, and all mat
ters Of transportation and legal af-
fairs.
The centralized or statewide asso-
citation which combines the functions
of the local and the federation has
come into prominence during the past
five years. There are now about fifty
organizations Of this type operating
throughout the country, including fif-
teen large cotton associations, seven
big tobacco associations, and numer-
Gus statewide associations handling
other commodities.