[LINCOLN, NE October 4, 2024] — A proclamation recognizing October 2024 as Cooperative Month was signed by Governor Jim Pillen. This coincides with the annual recognition of October as National Cooperative Month by the United States Department of Agriculture. This year’s national theme is “The Future is Cooperative.”
The proclamation signed by the Governor recognizes Nebraska’s farmer-owned cooperatives and rural electric and telephone cooperatives for the important role that they play in Nebraska’s economy and the necessity of cooperatives for the continued growth of our state’s economy in the future.
Rural agricultural cooperatives serve the needs of nearly 55,915 farmers and ranch owners. With an annual payroll of nearly $400 million, cooperatives directly employ 5,087 Nebraskans in 401 communities across the state. They also create 13,529 jobs annually through their operations, member payments, and investments.
Last year, Nebraska’s agricultural cooperatives made cash patronage and equity redemption payments totaling over $100 million to their members and reinvested $300 million in property, plant, and equipment to serve members’ needs. Nebraska’s rural electric cooperatives serve over 7,000 rural farmers and ranchers with a combined service territory of over 12,000 square miles. Rural telephone cooperatives in Nebraska serve over 9,000 telephone, television and broadband users in Nebraska.
The economic impact of cooperatives benefit all Nebraskans. Nebraska communities were supported by over $21.9 million of property tax paid by agricultural cooperatives. Nebraska’s farmer-owned cooperatives, governed by their farmer owners, contributed $2.8 million to local fire departments, local school and youth organizations, local and statewide FFA and 4-H chapters, and provided numerous scholarships to help Nebraska students continue their education.
Rocky Weber, President and General Counsel to the Nebraska Cooperative Council, stated: “The Future is Cooperative” is an appropriate theme for Cooperative Month in 2024. Nebraska’s agricultural cooperatives are actively investing in generational assets and technology to serve their farmer members now and into the future. Whether its AI, automated technology, sustainable agricultural practices, research and development, or educating future agricultural leaders, Nebraska’s agricultural cooperative system is focused on the generational needs of its farmer-owners. That is the essence of a Cooperative. Governor Pillen’s proclamation of October 2024 as Cooperative Month is a welcome acknowledgment of how vital cooperatives are in securing a future of economic opportunity and growth in Nebraska.”
