COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURE 35




 Why Failure?

 Three hundred and seventy-four cooperative associa-
 tions were organized in Florida between 1889 and 1929.
 During the 1929-30 season only 190 of these associations
 were active. Fifty-five associations had never been active
 while 129 had once operated.
 One or more of the following reasons were given as the
 chief causes of failure:
 1. No need for a cooperative.
 2. Lack of sufficient capital.
 3. Poor management.
 4. Lack of cooperative spirit.
 5. Lack of volume.
 6. Competition.
 7. Unsatisfactory Prices.
 Since the mechanics of cooperative organization have
been well worked out, the problem of cooperative agricul-
ture is not HOW TO ORGANIZE but HOW TO OPERATE
SUCCESSFULLY after the cooperative group has been
formed.
 One of the major requirements in any type of coopera-
tive organization is LOYALTY OF MEMBERSHIP. With-
out it the movement is doomed to failure. Money can buy
the leadership to guide the association through critical or
prosperous periods. It can set up standards of pack, super-
vise handling, lay out growing programs, and otherwise
direct operations, but only the individual member can
furnish the element of loyalty required for success.
 It is evident that the paramount requirement for the
progress of the cooperative is the confidence of the indi-
vidual farmer in its objectives, and his support of the lead-