Cooperative Membership Dues are paid annually. Membership dues support our mission-based work around cooperative development, land retention, and advocacy.

Our members are low and moderate-income families interested in self-help economic development activities like credit unions, housing, and worker cooperatives. Our members are primarily Black farmers, landowners and ranchers.

***Only Co-Ops with board approved bylaws and current annual dues are allowed to participate in the Annual Meeting Voting process.**

Contact membership@federation.coop with questions.

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Are you a Co-Op? Or are you a traditional business.

Co-Ops are typically started by group of people rather than individuals.

cooperative-a farm, business, or other organization which is owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits.

7 Principles That Guide Cooperatives

• • Voluntary and Open Membership

• • Democratic Member Control

• • Member Economic Participation

• • Autonomy and Independence

• • Education, Training and Information

• • Co-operation among Co-operatives

• • Concern for Community

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Co-Ops are deemed Associate Members with the inability to vote during the annual meeting until the board approves your bylaws.

Co-Ops are first listed as Associate Members until by-laws are approved by the FSC Board.

The Federation offers technical assistance and coop development resources.

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Please note when filling out the form:

**Home address = billing address for renewals

**Work address = farm address, land, or co-op address

**For any question with an unknown answer, please put N/A

For assistance filling out this online form, please contact membership@federation.coop or call 1-888-322-2985.

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MEMBERSHIP

The Federation has been successfully working since 1967 to provide Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives in the Southern region with land retention assistance, cooperative development assistance, and advocacy.

The Federation's strengths are its structure and governance. We are a member-owned and operated organization born out of the Civil Rights Movement to do the unique work of empowering our members with racial and economic equity. Black farmer, landowner & cooperative ownership is a driving force behind all that we do.

BENEFITS

Co-Op Development

Land Retention Assistance

Advocacy (member-driven)

Regional Marketing Opportunities

State and regional events that provide networking opportunities with Black Farmers, landowners & co-ops

Mediation Dispute Resolution

Technical Assistance with:

USDA programs

Heirs Property & Estate Planning

Business Plans

Farm & Forest Management Plans

Forestry Management

Debt Restructuring

State Association Support

Disaster Relief Funding

Monthly Newsletter & Communications

Discounted agriculture industry workshops, training, and conferences