Agri-Mark Serves its Member-Owners

Agri-Mark professionally and efficiently markets members' milk and performs many all-important functions for its members.

  

Regional Membership Organization
Agri-Mark is democratically controlled by a regional membership structure. The co-op's membership territory is divided into 15 geographical regions, each with between 50 and 200 members. These regional areas are further subdivided into more localized membership structures by the establishment of two or more sections within a region, each with not less than 15 members.

Policy Development
Policy development starts with the Agri-Mark Resolutions Committee. The 15 Resolutions Committee members meet and, following the guidance of the members from their region, develop a set of recommended resolutions for adoption by the full voting representative body at the Agri-Mark annual meeting each year. At the Agri-Mark annual meeting, all elected representatives further consider and discuss the proposed resolutions. If adopted by the representatives, these resolutions establish the general guidelines used by the Board of Directors and management in conducting Agri-Mark's business for the coming year. Through this democratic process, it is the entire membership who have the opportunity to develop and approve the operational policies of their cooperative.

Legislative Representation
Cooperative members are well represented on national and regional issues of concern to the dairy industry. This representation comes through Agri-Mark's own lobbying efforts and membership in the Council of Northeast Farmer Cooperatives, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the National Milk Producers Federation and the Northeast Cooperative Council.

In addition, one Agri-Mark member chairs a state legislative committee for each state in which Agri-Mark has producer-members. These committees work on issues that will affect Agri-Mark members in their respective states.

Communications and Information
Agri-Mark has an active communications program to keep its membership well informed. The cooperative publishes an Agri-Mark newsletter 9 times a year for all members. In addition, members receive a letter with their twice monthly milk check to keep them further abreast of current affairs of their cooperative and the dairy industry. As part of the cooperative's overall communications effort, Agri-Mark encourages its 15 directors to hold informal meetings within their regions. These meetings are held as often as necessary to give members an accurate and up-to-date picture of the milk business. Each annual regional meeting provides another opportunity for both Board officers and management staff to report on Agri-Mark's progress to the membership.