NCERA210: Improving the management and effectiveness of cooperatively owned businesses and non-profit organizations

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[02/04/2024]

Date of Annual Report: 02/04/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 12/05/2023 - 12/05/2023
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2023 - 12/31/2023

Participants

Bhuyan, Sanjib (Rutgers University); Boerngen, Maria (Illinois State University); Boland, Michael A (University of Minnesota); Briggeman, Brian (Kansas State University); Elliott, Matthew S (South Dakota State University); Franken, Jason (Western Illinois University); Gardner, Justin (Middle Tennessee State University); Herchenbach, Jody (University of Nebraska - Kearney); Jacobs, Keri (University of Missouri); Kenkel, Philip (Oklahoma State University); Olson, Frayne (North Dakota State University); Park, John (Texas AgriLife Research); Schmit, Todd (Cornell University); Schweiss, Kristi (North Dakota State University); Secor, William (University of Georgia) Webster, Megan (Wisconsin Cooperative Extension)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved and Megan Webster provided a financial report. Kristi Schweiss was elected secretary, Jody Herchenbach was promoted to vice chair and Will Secor ascended to the chair position. Justin Gardner stepped down as chair. Phil Kenkel provided updates on the Journal of Cooperatives and announced the completion of a new textbook on agricultural cooperatives, which will be published in 2024. The group discussed the feasibility of a proceeding-style issue for the journal of cooperatives and voted to encourage presenters at the NCERA-210 meeting to submit their work to the journal. Brian Briggeman led a discussion about an updated NCFC Cooperative Education Roundtable.

Accomplishments

Outputs (Publications): <ul> <li>Bhuyan, S. & Karantininis, K. 2023. "How to Measure Cooperative Performance using Organizational Effectiveness and Participation," Chapter 8, in M. Boland & M. Elliot (eds). Handbook on Cooperatives and Mutuals, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802202618">http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802202618</a></li> <li>Boland M. & M. Elliot (eds). Handbook on Cooperatives and Mutuals, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802202618">http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802202618</a></li> <li>Kashyap, D. and Bhuyan, S. 2023, "Accessing value-added market through cooperatives: a case study of Sitajakhala Dugdha Utpadak Samabai Samiti Ltd., India," Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 399-417. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-05-2021-0131">https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-05-2021-0131</a>.</li> <li>Franken, J.R.V., M.L. Cook, and J.M.E. Pennings. 2022. “Producer Risk Aversion and Participation in Agricultural Cooperatives” Journal of Co-operative Organization and Management, 10(2): 100171. Pub date: 2022/12/1</li> <li>Franken, J. and J. Grashuis. 2023. “New Generation Cooperatives: What we Know and Need to Learn.” in Handbook of Research on Cooperatives and Mutuals, ed: Mathew Elliott and Michael Boland. Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 83-99. pub date: 2023/2/7</li> <li>Gardner, J., J. Franken, and M. Boerngen. 2022. “A Research Agenda for Cooperatives.” Journal of Cooperatives, 36: 38-66.</li> <li>Schmit, T.M., F.C. Tamarkin, & R.M. Severson. 2023. Differential economic impacts for cooperative business structures: An application to farmer-owned cooperatives in New York State. Ch. 19 (pp. 292-312) in Research Handbook on Cooperatives and Mutuals, M. Boland & M. Elliot, eds. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, UK.</li> <li>Schmit, T.M., R. Stamm, & R.M. Severson. 2022. Engaged learning: Linking course instruction and extension programming. Applied Economics & Teaching Resources, 4(2):69-83.</li> <li>Schmit, T.M. 2023. Cornell Cooperative Enterprise Program Report. In 2022 Annual Report of the Northeast Cooperative Council. March.</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C., Bergtold, J., Shanoyan, A., Low, S., Miller, B. (2023). A Qualitative Assessment of Farmer Director Skills in Agricultural Cooperatives. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 26(4), 655-672. https://www.ifama.org/ifamr-journal</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C. (2023). Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis (Paper 4 of 4): A Tool to Evaluate Director’s Skill Levels and Gaps. Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Agricultural Economics - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. https://accc.k-state.edu/research/fact_sheet_series.html</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C. (2023). Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis (Paper 3 of 4): Identifying the Most Important Director Skills. Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Agricultural Economics - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. https://accc.k-state.edu/research/fact_sheet_series.html</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C. (2023). Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis (Paper 2 of 4): Existing Skill Gaps. Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Agricultural Economics - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. https://accc.k-state.edu/research/fact_sheet_series.html</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C. (2023). Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis (Paper 1 of 4): Skills Needed to be Engaged and Knowledgeable Directors. Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Agricultural Economics - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. https://accc.k-state.edu/research/fact_sheet_series.html</li> <li>Li, Y. 2023. Needs assessment and financial feasibility of solar sheep grazing cooperatives in the Northeast United States. MS Thesis. Cornell University. (T.M. Schmit, Thesis advisor)</li> <li>Mashange, B.C. Briggeman. “Dynamic Pro-Forma Tool for Farmer Cooperatives.” Poster Presented at Extension Risk Management Education Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2023.</li> <li>Nienhaus, R., J.R.V. Franken, and J.M.E. Pennings. 2022. “Hedging behavior of agribusiness cooperatives and investor-owned firms in Germany.” Journal of Co-operative Organization and Management, 11(2), 100219. Pub date: 2023/12/1</li> <li>Secor, W., and Boland, M.A. (2023). The role of the farmer and their cooperative in supply chain governance: a US perspective. In Elliott, M.S., and Boland, M.A. (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Cooperatives and Mutuals (pp. 185-192). Edward Elgar Publishing.</li> <li>Boland, M.A., Byrne, N., Carroll, B., McCarthy, O., Pitts, S., and Secor, W. (A) (2023). A framework for understanding the role of producers in governance of supply chains. In Elliott, M.S., and Boland, M.A. (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Cooperatives and Mutuals (pp. 166-171). Edward Elgar Publishing.</li> </ul> Outputs (Presentations): <ul> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Equity Management Strategies.” Kansas Director Development Program, Wichita, KS, December 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Income Distribution Strategies.” Kansas Director Development Program, Wichita, KS, December 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Cooperative Finance Workshop.” Kansas Director Development Program, Wichita, KS, December 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Cooperative Finance Foundations.” Kansas Director Development Program, Wichita, KS, December 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Issues Facing Cooperatives.” Kansas Director Development Program, Wichita, KS, December2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Cooperative Principles.” Kansas Director Development Program, Wichita, KS, December 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Cooperative History and Principles.” Rural Grocery Initiative Cooperative Stakeholder Meeting, Manhattan, KS, December 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Dynamic Proforma Financial Statement Tool – Kanza Cooperative.” Wichita, KS, December 2024.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Interest Rate Outlook and Implications for Agriculture.” Michigan Ag Credit Conference, East Lansing, MI, October 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Data Trends in Rural Grocery Purchasing Cooperative Survey.” Virtual Discussion, October 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Cooperative Research and Education Update.” Leadership Symposium for Cooperatives, Manhattan, KS, August 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Skills Assessment in a Co-op Board Room.” 2023 Board Officer’s Workshop: Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, Ames, IA, July 2023</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Updates to the Dynamic Proforma Financial Tool for Farmer Cooperatives.” CoBank, Wichita, KS, June 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Leveraging the Cooperative Model to Create Member Value.” 2023 IFAMA World Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand, June 2023</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “EMAW Co-op Spraying Game.” Co-ops 101 for Cooperative Interns: Kansas Cooperative Council, Garden City, KS, May 2023</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Co-op Finance Basics.” Co-ops 101 for Cooperative Interns: Kansas Cooperative Council, Garden City, KS, May 2023</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Remaining Relevant to Members: Thinking Beyond Patronage.” CFO Roundtable Bull Session, Kansas City, MO, May 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Building Trusted Relationships with Farmers.” SE Ag Lenders School, Greenville, SC, May 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Garden City Co-op’s Financial Position and Insights from Very Large Cooperatives.” Garden City Co-op Board Meeting, Garden City, KS, March 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “The U.S. Ag Economy: How are we looking?” Mid-America Farm Expo, Salina, KS, March 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Value of the Cooperative Model – Bull Session.” CEO Roundtable, Kansas City, MO, March 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Cooperative Education Needs.” National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Orlando, FL, February 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Application of the Cooperative Model to Rural Grocery Stores in Kansas.” Rural Grocery Initiative, Iola, KS, January 2023</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Utilizing a Dynamic Pro Forma Financial Tool for Cooperatives.” CoBank, Wichita, KS, January 2023.</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., “Future Landscape of Farmer Cooperatives.” Alliance Ag and Grain, LLC Strategic Planning Meeting, Mulvane, KS, January 2023.</li> <li>Bhuyan, S., Karantininis, K. & Kinikli, F., 2023. “An Assessment of the Organizational Effectiveness of Farmer-owned Businesses: Cases from Turkey and Greece,” Contributed Paper, XVII Congress of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE), Rennes, France, August 29-September 1, 2023.</li> <li>Bhuyan, S., Karantininis, K. & Kinikli, F., 2023. “Using Organizational Effectiveness to Assess Performance of Selected Cooperatives in Greece and Turkey,” ICA CCR Global and European Cooperative Research Conference 2023, Leuven, Belgium, July 10-13, 2023.</li> <li>Gardner, J.G. “The Cooperative Development Challenge” Selected Paper, NCERA-210 Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, 05 December 2023</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S. (Author & Presenter). Nebraska Cooperative Council (NCC) Intern Retreat, "Cooperatives' Role and Value," Nebraska Cooperative Council (NCC), Kearney, NE. (June 14, 2023).</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S. (Author & Presenter), Weber, R. (Author & Presenter). Frenchman Valley Cooperative Board of Directors Retreat, "Director Skills - Frenchman Valley Board," Frenchman Valley Cooperative, Imperial, NE. (March 21, 2023).</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S. (Author & Presenter), Briggeman, B. C. (Author). Nebraska Cooperative Council (NCC) Graduate Director Program, "Developing the Most Important Skills for Directors," Nebraska Cooperative Council (NCC), Kearney, NE. (January 4, 2023).</li> <li>Huang, B., T.M. Schmit, & X. Kong. 2022. Higher member heterogeneity improves cooperative performance? Evidence from cooperative unions in China. Working Paper WP 2022-02, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. USA. Under Review: Agribusiness: An International Journal.</li> <li>T.M. 2023. Needs Assessment and Financial Feasibility for Solar Sheep Grazing Cooperatives, with R.M. Severson and Y. Li, Selected Paper, NCERA-210 Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, 05 December 2023.</li> <li>Schmit, T.M. Cornell’s Cooperative Enterprise Program – 2023 Program Update, Cooperative Leaders Forum, Northeast Cooperative Council, Albany, NY, 01 March 2023.</li> <li>Schmit, T.M. 2023 Decision Making in Cooperatives: How Would You Act, College Conference on Cooperatives, National Farmers Union Foundation, Bloomington, MN. 17 February 2023</li> </ul> Activities (Grants): <ul> <li>Briggeman, B.C. USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant “Supporting Rural Grocery Stores Through Cooperative Development,” $198,399. Project PI: R. Carver. Co-PI: B.C. Briggeman, 2023.</li> <li>M. Schmit and R.M. Severson. Cooperative Industry Education and Networking. Applied Economics & Management, Cornell University, Warren Teaching Endowment, 07.01.22 – 06.30.25, $16,220.</li> <li>M. Schmit (PI), R.M. Severson (co-I). Building economic and social equality through employee-owned enterprises. USDA, NIFA, Smith Lever, 10.01.21–09.30.24, $73,673.</li> <li>M. Schmit (PI), R.M. Severson (co-I), & M.N. LeRoux (co-I). A New Dawn for Shepherds: Grazing Sheep under Utility-scale Solar Arrays. USDA, AMS, Federal State Marketing Improvement Program, 09.30.21–09.29.24, $250,000.</li> <li>M. Schmit (PI) & R.M. Severson (co-I). Cooperative Extension Education & Outreach, Northeast Cooperative Council, 07.01.21 – 06.30.24, 136,343.</li> <li>M. Schmit (PI) & R.M. Severson (co-I). Cooperative Extension Education & Outreach, Dairylea Foundation Legacy Fund, Northeast Cooperative Council, 07.01.21 – 06.30.24, 30,000</li> </ul> Activities (Programs and Program Administration) <ul> <li>Boland, M. A., Co-op Director / Manager Edcation Workshop, "Current Issues in Governance," UMN, Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, United States. (August 10, 2023).</li> <li>Boland, M. A., Co-op Director / Manager Education Workshop, "Current Issues in Cooperative Finance and Accounting," UMN, Lamberton, Minnesota, United States. (March 10, 2023).</li> <li>Boland, M. A., Co-op Director / Manager Education. Workshop, "Current Issues in Cooperative Finance and Accounting," UWCC and UMN, Mankato, Minnesota, United States. (January 5, 2023).</li> <li>Boland, M. A., Co-op Director / Manager Education Workshop, "Director Compensation and Evaluation," UWCC and UMN, Mankato, Minnesota, United States. (January 4, 2023).Briggeman B.C., CEO Roundtable for Cooperative Managers: March 2023 (Kansas City, MO).</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., CFO Roundtable on Cooperative Finance: May 2023 (Kansas City, MO).</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., K-State Symposium on Cooperative Issues: August 2023 (Manhattan, KS).</li> <li>Briggeman B.C., Kansas Cooperative Council’s Co-ops 101 for Cooperative Interns: May 2023.</li> <li>Schmit T.M., Faculty Director, Cornell Cooperative Enterprise Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.</li> <li>Schmit T.M., Faculty Liaison, Northeast Cooperative Council, New York. USA</li> <li>Gardner, J.G., “The Cooperative development Challenge, Tennessee FFA State Convention” Gatlinburg TN, March 19-22, 2023</li> <li>Gardner, J.G., Ex Offico Director, Tennessee Council of Cooperatives</li> </ul>   Activities (University Instruction) <ul> <li>Briggeman B.C., AGEC 470 Cooperative Management</li> <li>T.M. Cooperative Business Management (AEM 3260/5260), Cornell University, N=20 students, Spring 2023.</li> </ul>

Publications

<ul> <li>Bhuyan, S. & Karantininis, K. 2023. "How to Measure Cooperative Performance using Organizational Effectiveness and Participation," Chapter 8, in M. Boland & M. Elliot (eds). Handbook on Cooperatives and Mutuals, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802202618">http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802202618</a></li> <li>Boland M. & M. Elliot (eds). Handbook on Cooperatives and Mutuals, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802202618">http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802202618</a></li> <li>Kashyap, D. and Bhuyan, S. 2023, "Accessing value-added market through cooperatives: a case study of Sitajakhala Dugdha Utpadak Samabai Samiti Ltd., India," Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 399-417. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-05-2021-0131">https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-05-2021-0131</a>.</li> <li>Franken, J.R.V., M.L. Cook, and J.M.E. Pennings. 2022. “Producer Risk Aversion and Participation in Agricultural Cooperatives” Journal of Co-operative Organization and Management, 10(2): 100171. Pub date: 2022/12/1</li> <li>Franken, J. and J. Grashuis. 2023. “New Generation Cooperatives: What we Know and Need to Learn.” in Handbook of Research on Cooperatives and Mutuals, ed: Mathew Elliott and Michael Boland. Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 83-99. pub date: 2023/2/7</li> <li>Gardner, J., J. Franken, and M. Boerngen. 2022. “A Research Agenda for Cooperatives.” Journal of Cooperatives, 36: 38-66.</li> <li>Schmit, T.M., F.C. Tamarkin, & R.M. Severson. 2023. Differential economic impacts for cooperative business structures: An application to farmer-owned cooperatives in New York State. Ch. 19 (pp. 292-312) in Research Handbook on Cooperatives and Mutuals, M. Boland & M. Elliot, eds. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, UK.</li> <li>Schmit, T.M., R. Stamm, & R.M. Severson. 2022. Engaged learning: Linking course instruction and extension programming. Applied Economics & Teaching Resources, 4(2):69-83.</li> <li>Schmit, T.M. 2023. Cornell Cooperative Enterprise Program Report. In 2022 Annual Report of the Northeast Cooperative Council. March.</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C., Bergtold, J., Shanoyan, A., Low, S., Miller, B. (2023). A Qualitative Assessment of Farmer Director Skills in Agricultural Cooperatives. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 26(4), 655-672. https://www.ifama.org/ifamr-journal</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C. (2023). Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis (Paper 4 of 4): A Tool to Evaluate Director’s Skill Levels and Gaps. Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Agricultural Economics - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. https://accc.k-state.edu/research/fact_sheet_series.html</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C. (2023). Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis (Paper 3 of 4): Identifying the Most Important Director Skills. Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Agricultural Economics - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. https://accc.k-state.edu/research/fact_sheet_series.html</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C. (2023). Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis (Paper 2 of 4): Existing Skill Gaps. Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Agricultural Economics - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. https://accc.k-state.edu/research/fact_sheet_series.html</li> <li>Herchenbach, J. S., Briggeman, B. C. (2023). Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis (Paper 1 of 4): Skills Needed to be Engaged and Knowledgeable Directors. Research Series on Director Skills Gap Analysis. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Agricultural Economics - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. https://accc.k-state.edu/research/fact_sheet_series.html</li> <li>Li, Y. 2023. Needs assessment and financial feasibility of solar sheep grazing cooperatives in the Northeast United States. MS Thesis. Cornell University. (T.M. Schmit, Thesis advisor)</li> <li>Mashange, B.C. Briggeman. “Dynamic Pro-Forma Tool for Farmer Cooperatives.” Poster Presented at Extension Risk Management Education Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2023.</li> <li>Nienhaus, R., J.R.V. Franken, and J.M.E. Pennings. 2022. “Hedging behavior of agribusiness cooperatives and investor-owned firms in Germany.” Journal of Co-operative Organization and Management, 11(2), 100219. Pub date: 2023/12/1</li> <li>Secor, W., and Boland, M.A. (2023). The role of the farmer and their cooperative in supply chain governance: a US perspective. In Elliott, M.S., and Boland, M.A. (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Cooperatives and Mutuals (pp. 185-192). Edward Elgar Publishing.</li> <li>Boland, M.A., Byrne, N., Carroll, B., McCarthy, O., Pitts, S., and Secor, W. (A) (2023). A framework for understanding the role of producers in governance of supply chains. In Elliott, M.S., and Boland, M.A. (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Cooperatives and Mutuals (pp. 166-171). Edward Elgar Publishing.</li> </ul>

Impact Statements

NCERA-210 has had a significant impact on both the scholarship related to agricultural cooperatives and the management of agricultural cooperatives. The single largest impact of the groups in 2023 was the completion and publication of a handbook on cooperatives, this handbook can be used by cooperative scholars, leaders, and other stakeholders. Counting all publications the group has generate no less than 18 pieces of scholarly literature, and well over 50 presentations aimed at improving the financial performance of cooperatives.