Nebr & Kraft,
Good stuff. This is a much tougher question than a quick and easy answer.
There are some absolutes.
Coops much be competitive-------------if board member paytronization has to be 100% to survive--go ahead and close the doors.
Coop Board Members #1 job is profitability of the coop. Not their personal service and irregardless of their personal business success. IMO---- often there are better board members in the nonfarm business community than among patrons----with better financial or accounting knowledge. #2 job is to hire good managers. #3 job is to let the manager manage.
Coops need to participate in changing markets a farming styles.
Coops can not ignore the business of the larger producers in the community. Nor can coops demand 100% of it. They lose either way.
