cooperatives Ag Co-ops Are More Than Seeds And Sales, They’re Boosting Rural Economies By Amy Mayer • Nov 15, 2018 Farmers started forming co-ops nearly a century ago, primarily to get better prices for their crops. They pooled their resources, put up storage bins and gained leverage with buyers. Redefining the Co-op in Ways Big & Small By Hilary Stohs-Krause • Jun 24, 2013 Hilary Stohs-Krause (Harvest Public Media) One in five adults over age 15 is a member of a cooperative, according to the United Nations.