National Cooperative Month

In recognition of October as National Cooperative Month Ag Secretary Vilsack recently announced record sales, income, and assets for agriculture and fishery co-ops in 2012, with the 100 largest agricultural cooperatives setting a new record - having reported revenue of $162 billion, an increase of more than 9 percent over 2011. There are nearly 3,000 farmer cooperatives across the country whose members include a large portion of our nation’s two million farmers and ranchers. There are nearly one billion individual members of co-ops worldwide, in turn generating more than 100 million jobs. Food security is a highly volatile issue right now. At last year’s International Food and Agricultural Congress Stephane Bertrand stated that ag co-ops help give farmers access to the resources they need for production, as well as access to markets where they can move their products, while giving them the opportunity to participate in decision making, greater access to land ownership, and greater negotiating powers. “In this way”, he said, “agricultural cooperatives ultimately help reduce poverty, ensure greater food security and eradicate hunger across the globe”.