Deiter, Ronald E.; Dahlgran, Roger A.; Passe, David M.

North Central Journal of Agricultural Economics Vol. 4 no. 2 (July 1982): 31-44.

This article reports on member awareness and member evaluation of dairy cooperative services in the North Central Region. Members seem well informed about services provided by only a few cooperatives. Years of cooperative membership, size of a producer's opration, awareness of the service by other members of the cooperative, and member's attitude about the importance of services are found to have a significant effect on a member's awareness. Contrary to recent allegations, members of larger cooperatives are most aware of services. Cooperative service policies seem consistent with member control. Finally it is demonstrated that selective member education programs that generate an increase in member awareness may not necessarily enhance member support.