Excerpts from the report: This report covers the findings from an examination of the records for the 26,192 marketing and purchasing associations in the files of the Farm Credit Administration as of December 31, 1939. The study is based entirely on the number of associations, as this is the only yard-stick available for the 77 years since the first of the living cooperatives was organized. Not so many data are available for the associations organized and discontinued prior to 1910, as statistically would be desirable. Nevertheless, it has been possible, by weaving the fragmentary material in with the complete records, to present what Is believed to be essentially a true picture, especially for the years since 1900.