Agricultural cooperative
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Search complete. 16 mentions across 4 episodes found for "Agricultural cooperative".
Oct 16, 2026
Tammi ArenderHOST
Stay with us.
Tammi ArenderHOST
On the other side, we'll visit with Duane Simpson of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives to find out how farmer-owned cooperatives are helping their members navigate high costs, labor challenges, and uncertain markets.
Tammi ArenderHOST
But as we go to break, farmers are watching every dollar going out the door.
Tammi ArenderHOST
Andrew Honicke maps out where farm production expenses were concentrated in 2025.
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Tammi ArenderHOST
Welcome back to Agri-Pulse Newsmakers.
Tammi ArenderHOST
October is National Co-op Month, and joining us is Duane Simpson, the president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
Tammi ArenderHOST
Duane, thank you so much for joining us today.
Brian BriggemanGUEST
And it's housed here in the Department of Agricultural Economics at K-State.
Brian BriggemanGUEST
So if we think back to the 80s, it was a very turbulent time within agriculture and for farmer cooperatives too.
Brian BriggemanGUEST
So grain marketing, farm supply co-ops.
Brian BriggemanGUEST
And they looked to K-State to say, hey, we need to establish a center of excellence that can help us with cooperative education and research, you know, to really fulfill the land grant model for co-ops.
Russell PlaschkaGUEST
And then the other piece is the advocacy piece.
Russell PlaschkaGUEST
So lobbying and talking to legislators in Topeka and on the federal side in D.C.
Russell PlaschkaGUEST
So we work with our partner agency, the National Cooperative, National Council for Farmer Cooperatives on the national level.
Russell PlaschkaGUEST
And then on the state level, the council does that for our members across the state.
Brian BriggemanGUEST
It is a public-private partnership between Kansas State University and the Kansas Cooperative Council, and it's housed here in the Department of Agricultural Economics at K-State.
Brian BriggemanGUEST
So if we think back to the '80s, it was a very, you know, turbulent time within agriculture, uh, and for farmer cooperatives too, so grain marketing, farm supply co-ops.
Brian BriggemanGUEST
And they looked, uh, to K-State to say, "Hey, we need to establish a center of excellence that can help us with cooperative education and research, you know, to really fulfill the land-grant model for co-ops.
Brian BriggemanGUEST
Because we're in this turbulent time and, you know, we're gonna get through this, but there might be future challenges and opportunities, but we need that land-grant model of teaching, research, and extension for cooperatives." So they established the, uh, the center.
Russell PlaschkaGUEST
Promotion of the cooperative business model, whether that's talking to high school classes or community groups or anybody, actually, interested in that cooperative model.
Russell PlaschkaGUEST
And then the other piece is the advocacy piece, so lobbying and, and talking to legislators in Topeka and on the federal side in DC.
Russell PlaschkaGUEST
So we work with our partner agency, the National Cooperative- National Council for Farmer Cooperatives on the national level, and then on the state level, the council does that for our members across the state.
Shelby VarnerHOST
You've made a mention of grain marketing and farm supply cooperatives, but what is the wide variety of cooperatives that actually exist in Kansas?
Vernon OakesHOST
Kevin also served on the broader cooperative systems through twenty-three years on the co-op board, CoBank board, including serving as chair since twenty twenty.
Vernon OakesHOST
He's also been on the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, cooperatives and other agriculture and cooperative organizations.
Vernon OakesHOST
Kevin, congratulations on your induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame, and welcome to Everything Co-op.
Kevin StillGUEST
Thank you.
35 MINS LATER
Kevin StillGUEST
I think getting the feedback, being constructive, um, and being honest with each other can make a better board.
Kevin StillGUEST
But I just think it really comes down to, um, communicating and listening and making sure that we're covering the right topics on the agenda.
Vernon OakesHOST
Through CoBank, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and other organizations, what issues have required agriculture cooperatives to speak with a unified voice?
Kevin StillGUEST
Well, I mean, if we don't, we're, we're in trouble, right? Because, you know, two-- there's farmers are what about two percent of our population.