Cooperatives and the American Economy
Farmers
The majority of our country’s 1.9 million farmers are members of the 1,671 farmer-owned cooperatives.
[USDA Rural Development Cooperative Statistics 2022]
Jobs
Those farmers and their cooperatives provide over 300,000 jobs nationally. [NCFC website, 2024]
Dollars / Annually
These farmer owned cooperatives have a total gross business volume of over $300.6 billion annually. [USDA Rural Development Cooperative Statistics 2022]
Credit Unions
Over 4,725 credit unions provide financial services to 140 million U.S. consumers. Fifty-five (55) credit unions in Nebraska provide services to 550,000 members. (Credit Union National Assocation, 2023)
Electric Co-ops
895 rural electric co-ops deliver electricity to 42 million people in 48 states providing power to 56% of nation’s landmass. (NRECA Facts & Figures, 2023)
Telephone Cooperatives
About 1.2 million rural Americans in 31 states are served by the 260 telephone cooperatives. (NTCA Facts, 2017)
Nebraska Cooperatives and the State Economy
Locations
As of May 2026, cooperatives are operating 400 locations across the state providing much needed jobs and services in our most rural communities.
Employees
As of May 2026, cooperatives employ 5,089 individuals across the state.
Farmers & Ranchers
As of May 2026, over 48,500 farmers and ranchers are voting members of Nebraska cooperatives, with many members of more than one cooperative.
Patronage and Equity Redemption
In the most recent completed fiscal year, Nebraska’s farmer owned cooperatives issued a collective total of $128 million in patronage allocations and equity/estate redemptions to their farmer members.
Reinvestment in Property/Plant & Equipment
Nebraska supply and marketing cooperatives reinvested $327 million in property, plant and equipment in 2024/25 to provide generational assets to serve their farmer members.
In Property Taxes
These cooperatives paid over $18 million in property taxes and over $11.6 million in state and federal income taxes in 2024/25.
