Transcript Welcome! Executing Vision & Strategy with Success 6 Annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference

Welcome!
Executing Vision & Strategy with Success
6th Annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference
Conference Objectives
Provide timely and highly relevant
information on agricultural co-op issues.
– Presentations that are valuable to participants
and encourage critical thinking
– Co-op leaders and academics
Provide an opportunity to hear about and
learn from each other.
Discussion is key component.
Planning Committee
University of Wisconsin Center for Co-ops
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Kim Zeuli
Anne Reynolds
Bob Cropp
Ashwini Rao
Farm Foundation—Steve Halbrook
CHS Foundation & Co-op Foundation
– William Nelson
Planning Committee
CHS Inc—Bob Bass
Cornell University
– Bruce Anderson
– Brian Henehan
Iowa State University—Roger Ginder
Kansas State University
– David Barton
– Mike Boland
Planning Committee
Michigan State University—Chris Peterson
North Dakota State—Bill Nelson
UC Davis—Shermain Hardesty
UM-Columbia—Mike Cook
Financial Sponsors
 University of Wisconsin Extension
 Farm Foundation
 Lindquist and Vennum
 Badgerland Farm Credit Services
 West Central
 Land O’Lakes
 CoBank
 Dorsey & Whitney
 CHS Foundation & The Co-op Foundation
 NCFC Education Foundation
 DFA
“The collapse of Farmland has some farm
groups worried that co-ops are losing their
ability to compete with big food
companies.”
--New York Times
September 16, 2003
2002 Conference: Restructuring
for Troubled Times
Co-ops struggle to meet changing demands
and stay competitive
Many reorganize, create subsidiary
companies with alternative business
structure, or enter into strategic alliances
2002 Conference: Restructuring
for Troubled Times
Forces behind co-op restructuring
– Consolidation (Wal-Mart)
– Member diversity
Many examples of different types of
strategies/restructuring
– Sun-Maid alliances
2002 Conference: Restructuring
for Troubled Times
The evolving co-op business structure
– Various definitions
– Wyoming model
– Legal and tax issues
Case studies of 2 joint ventures
– CHS Cooperatives
– South Dakota Soybean Processors
– Factors for success
Farmer Co-ops Conferences
This year we focus on implementing those
strategies.
A Look to the Future
– 2002: Agricultural Co-ops in the 21st Century
(USDA)
What to take home?
– Final sessions offer key insights
– This year we have a review of case studies
Thank you!
We appreciate your participation!