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From the mry start of the Federal rural eleari-
Jication program, Wisconsin has been one of
the leuders in participation.
Most of the cooperative plants
were operated by associations pre-
viously established for some other
type of business; for example, cream-
eries, milk stations, cheese factories,
and oil stations. Some of these or-
ganizations selected a location favor-
able for frozen food-locker facilities
and services and erected a building
there, although the site is not adjacent
to the main building of the cooperative.
Other joint enterprises added an in-
ctallation of frozen-food lockers in a
main building, or built an addition to
it for the purpose. Early in 1939, a
group of farmers in Outagamie County
organized an association at Greenville
for the sole purpose of making frozen-
fool locker services available.
Although most of the earlier plants
did not provide chilling facilities and
cutting service for their patrons, the
modern ones are installing the more
Complete units, and many of the older
plants are being revamped in order to
comply with the 1940 Wisconsin regu.
lations which require chilling and
freezing facilities.
  When properly organized and op-
erated, this service appears to be an
asset to a rural community. Further-
more, a study of locker plant operation
indicates that it lends itself very well
to cooperative operation.
Breeders' Associations
Improve Cattle
  During 1939 a movement of con-
siderable significance got under way
in Wisconsin. Farmer cooperatives
for the purpose of improving the cattle
in Rock and Langlade Counties were
organized and began operations, giving
service in March of that year. These
cooperatives offered the services of
outstanding sires through artificial
insemination.
  By September of 1940 the movement
had grown to the extent that a total of
10 counties-including an experi-
mental breeding ring operated by the
University at Madison-were offering
the services of outstanding bulls
through breeders' cooperative associa-
tions. From 10 to 12 thousand cows
are enrolled with the prospect of at
least 2 more counties, with 2,500 cows,
offering the service by the late fall of
1940.
  This method of cattle improvement
is one which the farmers themselves,
once they understand the possibilities,
are demanding. By this method a
good proved bull may leave 500 or
more offspring in a single year. Prop.
erly used, artificial insemination co-
operatives offer a tremendous oppor-
tunity for improving the cattle in the
areas in which they operate.
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