This research analyzes farm characteristics and other factors that affect the buying and selling behavior of farmers. Information for 1986 was obtained by questionnaires from 2,537 farmers in the Midwest and Southeast. The major finding of this study is that the buying and selling behavior of farmers does not vary greatly by size and type of farm. Cooperatives are almost as successful in getting the business of large-farm operators as that of medium- and small-farm operators. There are, however, some differences in types and sizes of farms that provide the basis of better service to farmers and increased patronage. These differences relate to goals, time devoted to the farm business, sources of information used for farm decisions, types of services used, and opinions about commodity marketing and purchases of inputs. The business implications of these differences for cooperatives are described.