Since launching The Co-op Advantage®️ in April 2017, more than 4,371 producers have followed our videos, blogs, social media posts and shared stories of their own.
As one of the greatest economic contributors to West Texas, Eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas; it’s fair to say cotton is king. And, while residents of these regions reap the benefits of economic growth – it’s on the backs of hard-working farmers to till the land and rely on Mother Nature each year to continue that growth – for the love of their careers and families as well as the contribution to our nation’s agricultural supply and demand.
It has been the goal of The Co-op Advantage to remind all those across the supply chain how true co-ops work to provide greater value and sustainability than for any one producer to go it alone. After all, it was innovation and integrity that a “by farmers, for farmers” tradition was grounded in the U.S. to develop cooperatives shortly after the Civil War.
To those who have become part of The Co-op Advantage initiative, we thank you.
For the many newcomers, we thought now would be a good time to reintroduce all four regional co-sponsors that embody The Co-op Advantage:
PYCO Industries, Inc.
PYCO is the largest cottonseed cooperative serving the southern United States with two cottonseed oil mills located in Lubbock. For more than 80 years, PYCO has been turning out high-quality products and maintaining valuable relationships with each of its many co-op gin members. In addition to producing cottonseed oil for cooking, PYCO also markets whole cottonseed and the by-products of cottonseed processing.
Farmers Cooperative Compress
Established in 1948, Farmers Cooperative Compress is the largest cotton warehousing entity in the world. With 208 warehouses providing more than 11 million square-feet of space, FCC has a USDA-licensed capacity of more than 2.2 million bales. As a producer-controlled and governed organization, FCC serves members by responsibly storing and shipping cotton worldwide. Profitable every year since its inception, FCC is headquartered in Lubbock and owns warehouses in Lubbock, Plainview, Levelland, Floydada, Sudan and Stanton.
Plains Cotton Cooperative Association
As one of the largest cotton-marketing organizations in the world, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association was initially developed by farmers searching for a way to achieve the best possible prices for their cotton. Since its inception in 1953, PCCA now works to serve other co-ops, find new strategies in technology, lobby on behalf of sound farm legislation – all while working to improve the total benefit of true ownership. PCCA is made up of approximately 15,000 grower-owners and has a trade territory spanning Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico.
Producers Cooperative Oil Mill
Established in 1944 Producers Cooperative Oil Mill began by focusing on evolving technology and processing methods. Since 1945, PCOM grew from the ability to process 150 whole tons of cottonseed per day to an impressive 1,000 tons per day. PCOM also has evolved to include locations in Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri. Simply put: PCOM is fiercely focused on marketing whole cottonseed nationwide that maintains PCOM’s commitment to serving its co-op gin members.
Invested in Your Future
The co-op model has always been about real ownership, transparency and control. Long-supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, cooperatives – and the economic impacts therein – preserve the legacy of family farms, local businesses and rural communities.
That is The Co-op Advantage.