Patrie, William. "Creating 'Co-op Fever' : A Rural Developer's Guide to Forming Cooperatives," Service Report 54, Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, July 1998.

Rapp, Galen and Gerald Ely, "How to Start a Cooperative" , Cooperative Information Report 7, Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, July 1998, Reprinted August 2001.

"Co-ops 101, An Introduction to Cooperatives" (CIR 55), a good information source for those needing a greater understanding of cooperatives, is available from USDA's Cooperative Programs ( http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/cir55/cir55rpt.htm. (Reference follows)

Frederick, Donald, A. "Co-ops 101, An Introduction to Cooperatives" ,Cooperative Information Report 55, Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, April 1997, revised March 2005.

The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center has extensive information on value-added businesses available at http://www.agmrc.org. This site also provides links to resources for feasibility studies and business planning.

Outside advisors can assist in the development process as well as be providers of other sources of background information. There are a number of cooperative development centers around the nation with the sole purpose of being practitioners of cooperative development. Some of these centers belong to the "Cooperation Works!" cooperative development network ( http://www.cooperationworks.coop). However, there are centers outside of that network as well. Those interested in developing cooperatives can benefit from contacting a cooperative development center in their state or region (if there is one) for assistance.

USDA Websites:
U.S. Department of Agriculture: http://www.usda.gov/

USDA Cooperative Programs:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/csdir.htm

USDA Cooperative Programs (publications):
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/NEWPUB.htm

USDA Rural Development:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/
USDA Rural Development can also assist you from its State Offices. Please look up and contact the Rural Development State Office within your state:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/cscontac.htm

Outside websites/resources:
University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives:
http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/
Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives:
http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/qbcc/