Measuring the Performance of Agricultural Cooperatives

摘要

Extra value is calculated for 65 agricultural cooperatives by subtracting an interest charge on equity from net savings and also expressed as a percentage of operating capital. Cooperative performance is examined by type of agricultural cooperative cotton, dairy, farm supply, fruit and vegetable, grain, sugar, and otherfor 1992-96 and 2000-04. At least one cooperative of each type (except for sugar cooperatives) was able to show positive extra value when equity was assigned a charge 10 percent above the basic rate, while there were cooperatives of each type that showed negative extra value at the basic charge for member capital. Dairy cooperatives represented one-half of the top performers, while fruit and vegetable cooperatives represented onehalf of those with negative extra value in both time periods. Results showed that cooperatives of all types can be very able performers but that some cooperatives may not be fully rewarding members for the use of their equity.