Thirty years ago, about 10,000 cooperative associations marketed farm products and sold farm supplies worth $10 billion. By 1981, sales volume from 6,200 cooperatives had reached $71 billion, $53 billion from marketing farm products, $17 billion from farm supplies, and $1 billion from services. Cooperative share of market increased from 20 percent in 1951 to 30 percent in 1981. During this 30-year period, cooperative marketing grew at a 19-percent annual rate while total farm marketings increased at an 1-percent annual rate. Cooperatives sold 12 percent of production supplies to farmers in 1951 and increased their share of the market to 20 percent by 1981. Cooperative growth increased during this period at a 26-percent annual rate while cash expenditures for production supplies increased at a 15-percent annual rate. Measured in sales volume, annual growth, or market share, cooperative performance over the period proved effective for farmers.