Twelve Sectors. One Voice.

Minnesota and Wisconsin were some of the first states to enact a law authorizing cooperatives. Today, the two states form the most densely-populated region for cooperatives in the nation, with a diverse range of twelve different sectors.

Credit Union

Credit Unions are owned by the people who use their products and services. Cooperative Network supports the advocacy efforts of Credit Union National Association, Minnesota Credit Union Network, Wisconsin Credit Union League, and our member credit union institutions in the ongoing battle to protect the cooperatives’ corporate tax-exempt status and to reinforce regulatory differences between financial cooperatives and banks. We also rally the larger cooperative community to strengthen regional business-to-business connections and bolster grassroots lobbying efforts when credit unions need such support.

Dairy

Dairy cooperatives are farmer-owned and market about 80 percent of the milk and process 60 percent of the cheese produced in Wisconsin; meanwhile, Minnesota is home to one of the nation’s largest dairy cooperatives, Land O’Lakes, headquartered in Arden Hills.

Energy

Energy cooperatives serve farms, homes, and businesses across rural Minnesota and Wisconsin. In response to member-owner demand, they have become renewable energy leaders among utilities providers.

Farm Credit

Farm Credit associations are part of a national network of independently operated and cooperatively owned lenders dedicated to meeting the needs of agriculture and rural America. Patrons own and control the local institutions, which provide credit and other financial services to farmers, rural businesses, and those living in rural areas. Farm Credit retailers provide the majority of agricultural lending services for farmers.

Farm Supply, Fuel and Grain

Farm supply cooperatives pool purchasing power to drive down costs, create better market opportunities, and have proactively invested in infrastructure and new technology to improve access.

Food

Food co-ops are driven by local consumer demand. Cooperative conversions in rural and underserved areas are helping keep grocery stores open and healthy options more readily available.

Housing

Cooperative housing is controlled and managed by its residents and can take many forms—from high-rise apartments to single family housing. They offer affordable options in high-cost areas. Senior housing cooperatives first appeared in 1978 in Minnesota, where today nearly 75 percent of such cooperatives in the U.S. are located.

Health Care

Cooperative health maintenance organizations (HMOs) were organized after passage of the federal HMO Act of 1973 to help consumers address the problems of rising health-care costs and physician shortages. Today, health care cooperatives provide a mix of clinics, services, and insurance. Health care cooperatives continually rank among the top health care plans based on clinical quality and member satisfaction.

Livestock and Genetics

Livestock and Genetic cooperatives provide farmers with testing, breeding and other products and services. They have attracted a large international market; two of the nation’s top cattle breeding cooperatives are located in Cooperative Network's region.

Mutual Insurance

Town mutual insurance companies are the oldest cooperatives in the United States, the first one organized in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin in 1752. Town mutuals in Minnesota and Wisconsin have served farmers, rural homeowners, and small main-street businesses for nearly 150 years. Today, they provide property insurance to approximately 100,000 residents.

Processing and Marketing

These co-ops focus on maximizing profit for their farmer-members. All beet sugar in Minnesota - part of the nation’s “sugar bowl” - is produced, processed, and marketed through co-ops; CROPP Cooperative in Wisconsin is the largest organic farming co-op in the world, better known as Organic Valley.

Telecommunications

Telecommunications cooperatives were created to provide quality, affordable communications service in mostly rural areas. They have been pioneers in bringing broadband to Minnesota's and Wisconsin's underserved communities. All areas served by a telecommunications cooperative have access to broadband service.

Membership Benefits