Excerpts: Farmer cooperatives have existed in the United States since Colonial times. Since 1913, Congress has provided funds for research and educational work to help farmers with their cooperative problems. This work has centered in the U. S, Department of Agriculture, with a few exceptions. This publication explains how the Federal program with cooperatives was carried on from 1913 through 1953 under various names and agencies as follows: 1913-17-- Office of Markets, Office of Rural Organization, and Office of Markets and Rural Organization ---- 1917-22--Bureau of Markets ---- 1922-29--Bureau of Agricultural Economics ---- 1929-33-- Federal Farm Board (independent agency) ---- 1933-38--Farm Credit Administration (as independent agency) ---- 1938-53--Farm Credit Administration (U. S. Department of Agriculture). Since 1953, Farmer Cooperative Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, has been responsible for the Federal Government's work with farmer cooperatives.