U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner today highlighted the presence of two Michigan agricultural cooperatives in the USDA’s annual list of the nation’s top 100 agricultural cooperatives by business volume.
“Michigan agricultural cooperatives are an example of how farmers are working together to build rural prosperity,” said Turner. “USDA Rural Development remains committed to the success of local farmer-owned cooperatives.”
The Michigan Milk Producers Association, headquartered in Novi, saw revenues increase from $957 million in 2013 to $1.153 billion in 2014, moving them up the list from 34th to 26th place.
Michigan Sugar Company, headquartered in Bay City, also made the list, taking 76th place.
Like the nation’s ag co-op sector as a whole, the top 100 cooperatives also enjoyed a fourth consecutive year of record sales. Ag co-op employment increased 0.4 percent to 191,000 people in 2014. The number of full-time co-op employees dipped slightly, 0.4 percent, while the number of part-time employees increased by 2 percent.
The total number of ag cooperatives declined from 2,186 in 2013 to 2,106 last year, a drop of nearly 4 percent. Despite the decline, co-op memberships grew by 1 percent, to just under 2 million. Many farmers and ranchers are members of more than one cooperative. In addition to providing supplies and marketing services to farmers and ranchers, the nation's co-ops provide telecommunications, energy, financial and other important services.
USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Under the Obama Administration, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $6.5 billion in Michigan projects.