The old fashioned coop can very easily turn into a "try to please everyone so you please no one" type of deal. They can get bloated with overhead in payroll with "want to keep the status quo" managers, with few employees that have desire or initiative to do anything other than average 8 to 5 work.

Often times it takes a turnover of board members with a new vision and hiring a manager that no one likes, that will cut out the fat and mediocre performance. Not a popular guy, but one that knows how to run a business and not afraid to step on established toes to get the job done.

Few farmer boards have the guts to do it.

John