Milford chronicle., 1931-01-16
Address By w. T. Derrick
son, Director Of Bureau
OF Markets, To The
Adult Night School At
Lincoln City On Tues
day, January IL.

The subject of cooperative marx
citing has perhaps been more Widel
cussed and discussed than any Othe
single subject pertaining to agricul
ture during the past ten years.
Several years ago it was the VOgu
to have paid organizers go ou
through the country and with man
loud and various promises organic
the farmers into a so-called cooper
ative organization. At this time lit
tie attention was given to any sub
ject other than the actual Organiza
tion, and promises which could no
be fulfilled were freely made. A
that time organizers proclaimed tha
cooperative marketing was a curt
for all of the ills and evils pertain
ing to agriculture and as result
practically all of the association!
formed on this basis lived but {
short time, and considerable injury
was done to the cooperative move
ment.
During the past five years there
has been a decided change i'll re-
gard to the forming and operation
of cooperative organizations, and at
the present time before actually Or
ganizing, the farmers are requested
to make a careful study of their
own local condition and every effort
is made to form and organize in
such way that it will have a rea-
sonable chance to succeed.
There are many kinds of cooper
atiYe marketing organizations, but
there are certain fundamental prin-
ciples on which any successful CO.
operative organization must be for
med. In the first place, the farmer
who joins cooperative organiza-
tion with the idea that by simply
joining the association all of his
troubles will be over is due for
rude awakening. 1t is an old saying
that we get just about what we pay
for and that we get out of anything
Just about what we put into it. This
is particularly true in regard to CO.
operative marketing.
A cooperative marketing Organiza-
ton is subject to all the ills and
evils of private commercial or
ganization and requires the same
careful individual attention in order
to achieve success. AS stated above,
it has been found that successful
cooperative organizations are
founded on certain known princi- I
pies. These are sufficient volume of
a real need for the organ
izatiOn, capable management, and
loyal members. | shall try to briefly I
explain each one of these principles
10 you.
First, sufficient volume of busi-
ness. Many leaders in cooperative
feel that an organiza-
ion in order to be successful must
control at least 500 of the COM
modify or commodities to be mar
leted. 1t is. of course, desirable to
rave as large a volume as possible
n order to effectively bring about
certain conditions; however, l am
irmly convinced that the volume of
BUSINESS in the beginning. is not so
as having members who
Understand the organization that
hey proposed to form, who will be
Filling to give considerable time
nd attention to their organization, !
nd to stay with it long enough to .
i've it a fair trial.
Another important feature is the ;
cal need for the organization. Far ,,
lers who feel that the present mar ,
citing facilities are satisfactory or !
S good as could be accomplished =
will not take the nee :
5sary interest to make the organi- =
ltiOn successful. =
Efficient management is, of course =
Dsolutely essential. In the past :,
r too many organizations have i
zen formed for the purpose of pro- =
ding some one job or the man .
ger of the association has been Sc =
cted without careful consideration + !,
his ability to successfully Oper- II
c an organization of the kind pro- =;
'sed. =;
Last but not least / mention 10y 81
members and / believe that this -
the most important. because in =,
any cases loyal members will Ov- N
come most of the problems pre- H.
nted. A small organization COM NJ
sed of loyal members has bet =, =,
: chance to succeed at the begin ~
lg than has an organization vi
Itch has made a drive for men, -,
rs and has thus gotten into the A.
members who are not NJ
tirely sold on the idea and who n,
y soon become dissatisfied and ~,
5h to withdraw. l also believe ho
1t the policy of long term con- 40
cts is a mistake. 1t, of course, ",
; several desirable features, but w
my opinion the man who actual lin
wants to get out of the organiza- oo
A is detriment to the organiza A.,
4 and all concerned would be tb,
ter off if he were allowed to oT
hdraw. In most successful CO. M;
it is provided in the ;na
Laws that any member may ois s'
hdraw during certain stated I'D
iod each year, od,
successful cooperative organi- if
on is help to the individual 90,
nber and help to the cOmmun- Az
however, it is by no means a CTR.
e-all and the members who joins COO M
the sole purpose of getting a o,.a
Ter price for his commodity is =
for disappointment. The mem
will eventually receive higher