Legal Definitions - Agricultural Cooperative Service

The Agricultural Cooperative Service is a federal agency that operates within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its primary responsibility is to assist farmers in organizing farm cooperatives.

The agency also collects statistical information on cooperatives and publishes a monthly magazine called Farmer Cooperatives.

For example, if a group of farmers in a particular region want to form a cooperative to collectively purchase seeds and fertilizers, they can seek assistance from the Agricultural Cooperative Service. The agency can provide guidance on legal requirements, financial management, and other aspects of cooperative formation.

Another example is the statistical information collected by the agency. This data can be used to analyze trends in cooperative formation and performance, which can inform policy decisions and help farmers make informed decisions about whether to join or form a cooperative.