Transportation and Handling of Seed by Regional Cooperatives in the Southeast

Excerpts from the report: This report is based on a study of the practices employed in purchasing and distributing seed by 7 regional farmer cooperatives that have a substantial wholesale and retail seed business in 13 Southeastern States. These were the principal regional associations operating in the area that included Maryland and West Virginia on the North and Arkansas and Mississippi on the West. All associations operated one or more processing plants and, in total, distributed seed to about 1300 outlets. The objective of the study was to provide basic information that could be used by cooperatives and other firms purchasing and marketing seeds for patrons in the Southeast to improve their transportation, handling, and warehousing methods so as to reduce costs and provide more effective services for farmers. The study endeavored to determine: (1) Volume and origin of seeds purchased and distributed; (2) extent of truck and rail shipments, distances moved, and ways inbound and outbound transportation costs might be reduced; (3) handling and warehousing methods used, especially for receiving seed in bulk and possibilities for improvement; and (4) possibilities for coordination among cooperatives and other firms in the Southeast in procuring seed from surplus producing areas, such as the West.