Integral to the Economy

Cooperatives: an Integral Part of the American Economy

  • The majority of our country’s 1.9 million farmers are members of the 2,047 farmer-owned cooperatives. They provide over 136,000 full-time jobs nationally. [USDA Rural Development Cooperative Statistics 2015]
  • These farmer owned cooperatives have a net business volume of over $212 billion annually. [USDA Rural Development Cooperative Statistics 2015]
  • Over 5,600 credit unions provide financial services to 112 million U.S. consumers.  Sixty-two (62) credit unions in Nebraska provide services to 510,000 members (2017 NCUL)
  • More than 900 rural electric co-ops deliver electricity to more than 42 million people in 47 states. This makes up 42% of the nation’s electric distribution lines and covers 75% of our country’s land mass (NRECA Facts & Figures 2017)
  • About 1.2 million rural Americans in 31 states are served by the 260 telephone cooperatives (NTCA Facts, 2017)