Factors that Determine Where a Farmer Buys and Sells

The main objectives of the survey were to determine what farm patrons looked for when choosing a farm supply or grain marketing firm and to determine the attitudes of farmers when using marketing services and purchasing supplies. The following factors and attitudes were considered: 1. The ranking of present services, practices, and other characteristics influencing a farmer’s choice of who receives his patronage. 2. The effect of various practices, characteristics, and actions that influence a farmer’s choice of a business establishment. These include management’s actions and the personalities of management and employees, neighbors’ actions and rumors, size of the firm, convenience of the firm (facilities and location), and availability of credits and discounts. 3. Farmers’ attitudes toward cooperatives as compared to independents and toward the handling of deferred patronage refunds. 4. Farmers’ attitudes about pricing and marketing of their grain. 5. The important services which farmers may desire from marketing and farm supply firms in the future

Grain Elevators of South Dakota and Associated Farm Supply Businesses: Some Factors Affecting Their Growth and Future Prospects

The purpose of this study is to explore some of the characteristics of the South Dakota grain elevator and farm supply industry and to identify factors affecting the growth or survival of an elevator. It is possible by utilizing known economies of volume through their marketing systems, South Dakota producers could realize a savings of at least $19 million annually