As a farmer-owned cooperative, South Dakota Wheat Producers (SDWG) serves the needs of its 3,600 active members of the farmers through the provision of agricultural inputs and marketing and transportation of grain produced in the service territory of the cooperative. For nearly 80 years, most of the grain was shipped from the region by rail to markets in the East, and the Pacific Northwest. However, the recent growth in ethanol production is changing the structure of the flow of grain along with stimulating the local economy. SDWG management and producer board must decide how to continue to meet the needs of its producers and owners in the new conditions. "Hide
by David E. Bell, Mary Shelman Source: Harvard Business School 40 pages. Publication Date: January 3, 2008. Prod. #: 508034-PDF-ENG