CS-**ID Farmer Cooperative Statistics (ID of assoc./orgs. not cu

CP-2006ID Form Approved

OMB No. 0570-0007

United States Department of Agriculture

Rural Development

FARMER COOPERATIVE STATISTICS, 2006

If address is incorrect,

please correct mailing label.

Is this address your headquarters?

YES NO

Your help is needed in developing and maintaining complete and accurate nationwide statistics on farmer cooperatives for use in education, research, and decision-making. The data you provide will remain confidential as provided for by law.

1. Person completing this questionnaire:

a. NAME

b. TITLE

c. PHONE NUMBER ( ) - d. FAX ( ) - e. DATE

f. E-MAIL ADDRESS

g. COOPERATIVE’S HOME-PAGE ADDRESS

If you have any questions related to this survey of farmer cooperatives, please feel free to contact Eldon Eversull at (202) 690-1415 or send an e-mail message to eldon.eversull@usda.gov. You are not required to respond, but your participation is very important. If you have any comments, please write them in the margins or attach a note.

Please attach the enclosed return mailing label to your envelope and return this questionnaire to:

USDA/RBS, STOP 3256, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-3256

COOPERATIVE IDENTIFICATION, 2006

2. What are the principal functions of your association? (Please check those applicable.)

AUCTION COMMISSION SALES

BARGAINING POOLING

MARKETING (Specify major commodity.)

PROVIDING SERVICES SELLING FARM SUPPLIES AND/OR EQUIPMENT

OTHER (Please specify.)

3. When was your association organized? YEAR

4. Was your association incorporated? (Please check one.)

YES (If "YES," continue with a.) NO (If "NO," go to question 5.)

a. Was your association incorporated under a State cooperative statute? (Please check one.)

YES (If "YES," go to question 5.) NO (If “NO,” continue with b.)

b. Was your association incorporated under a general corporation law? (Please check one.)

YES NO

5. How many members or stockholders entitled to vote for directors belong to your association? (Exclude patrons who are not members.)

a. TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS OR STOCKHOLDERS? NUMBER

b. NUMBER OF MEMBERS OR STOCKHOLDERS THAT ARE:

1. INDIVIDUALS? (Include partnerships, family corporations, etc.) NUMBER

2. COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS? NUMBER

6. Is membership limited to persons engaged in activities associated with the production of

agricultural and aquacultural products and associations of such producers? (Please check one.)

YES NO

7. In voting, does each member have only one vote and no more? (Please check one.)

YES NO (If "NO," please state in the space below how a member votes.)

8. Has your association issued capital stock? (Please check one.)

NO (If "NO," please go to question 9.) YES (If "YES," please complete a.)

a. What is the maximum number of shares of voting

stock any one member may own? NUMBER

9. Does your association's bylaws limit dividends on capital stock or membership capital? (Please check one.)

NO (If "NO," please go to question 10.) YES (If "YES," please complete a.)

%

a. What is the annual percentage limit on dividends?

10. Does your association's charter or bylaws provide for payment of patronage dividends or refunds? (Please check one.)

NO YES

11. In what month did your cooperative end its fiscal or business year during 2006? MONTH

12. What was your association's sales or business volume, and what percent was with members in your association's latest fiscal or business year, from (a) marketing farm products, (b) selling farm supplies, and (c) providing related services. (Please complete the following table.)

Function	Business volume	Percent with members
a. Marketing farm products	$	%
b. Selling farm supplies	$	%
c. Providing related services	$	%

13. Please enter the names and titles of the chief board officer or chairman and manager or CEO of your cooperative and their phone numbers:

a. CHIEF BOARD OFFICER OR PRESIDENT PHONE ( ) -

b. GENERAL MANAGER OR CEO PHONE ( ) -

Please enclose a copy of your association's articles of incorporation, bylaws, and most recent annual or audit report.

(If you would like your articles of incorporation, bylaws, annual or audit report returned to you, please let us know.)

THANK YOU!

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Rural Development

STOP 3256

Washington, D.C. 20250-3256

Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

Committed to the future of rural communities.

USDA Rural Development provides research, management, and educational assistance to cooperatives to strengthen the economic position of farmers, fishermen, and other rural residents. It works directly with cooperative leaders and Federal and State agencies to improve organization, leadership, and operation of cooperatives and to give guidance to further development.

Rural Development’s cooperative program (1) helps farmers, fishermen, and other rural residents develop cooperatives to obtain supplies and services at lower cost and get better prices for products they sell; (2) advises rural residents on developing existing resources through cooperative action to enhance rural living; (3) helps cooperatives improve services and operating efficiency; (4) informs members, directors, employees, and the public on how cooperatives work and benefit their members and their communities; and (5) encourages international cooperative programs.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no person is required to respond to a collection of information especially if the form fails to display a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0570-0007. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection.

COOPERATIVE IDENTIFICATION, 2006