Co-op

October was National Cooperative Month, giving many across the nation an opportunity to see the intricate part the cooperative model plays in the nation’s economy, particularly in rural America.   “Whether you belong to a credit union, you get electricity in a rural area, or even if you drink milk or eat candy that has sugar from sugarbeets, you’re probably benefiting from a cooperative.”   Under

The American Farm Bureau is asking Congress to quickly pass the Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act.  The recently-introduced legislation will ensure that electric cooperatives won’t put their tax-exempt status in jeopardy when they accept government grants for things like expanding broadband or restoring power after storms and other disasters.   M...

On Thursday, the USDA announced $2.5 billion in rural development loans for rural electric infrastructure improvements in 27 states.  Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says the investments will help “develop and maintain modern, reliable electric infrastructure” for rural communities.   The National...