Co-op History

Posted in: Co-op History, Co-op Values
Let's Talk Sense About Co-operative Farming
By National Catholic Rural Movement and David Griffiths
Sep 9, 2007 - 12:37:21 PM

Let's Talk Sense About Co-operative Farming was the front page headline in the National Catholic Rural Movement's official organ Rural Life, No 51, Saturday, 18 September, 1943.

What the NCRM was arguing for was that the War Agricultural Committees should adopt co-operative farming instead of collective farming.

Rural Life, No 51, 18 September 1943

The article made a clear distinction between collective farming and co-operative farming: "Collective farming exists when the State compulsorily imposes upon the farmers of a district the pooling of labor and machinery, and directs the individual farmers as to the products which he grows."

"Co-operative farming exists where the farmers of a district realising that the common good of the people of the district demands a modification of individualist practices, voluntarily assist eaqch other with the pooling of labor and machinery and the co-ordination of their production policies."

"Between the two, there is a complete and thorough-going difference. The first is repulsive to the Christian. THe second is a lofty height of the Christian life." 

"What Catholic farmers must realise is this: The old days of individualism are gone - and no one in his senses will mourn their passing......In the new world towards which we are moving the organisation of agriculture will be on a community basis."