The National Farmers Union and the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives are both long standing organizations committed to enhancing the lives of small-town farmers and their surrounding communities. Both organizations advocate legislation benefiting farmers and provide farmer-owned business.

Based in Washington D.C., the National Farmers Union was founded in 1902. The National Farmers Union represents farmers in all states, and works at the grassroots level often initiating policy positions locally. The National Farmers Union works with cooperatives, both by supporting existing agricultural cooperatives and assisting in the establishment of new farmer cooperatives and rural businesses. Their primary objective in this enterprise is to help family farmers and ranchers add value to the products they produce by helping them retain ownership of these products further along in the processing route and increase their market returns.

The National Council of Farmers Cooperatives was founded in 1929 and is still in existence today (2011) supporting the endeavors of American cooperatives and small farm organizations from their headquarters in Washington, D. C. and their many state branch offices around the country. They provide jobs, farming supplies, and even supply credit to local farmers nationwide. The NCFC strives to uphold the following four core values, which are listed on their website:

1. Farmer ownership and control in the production and distribution chain
2. Continued economic viability of America's farmers, ranchers, and the business they own
3. Stewardship of natural resources
4. Vibrant rural communities

This collection (1940-1973, undated) contains materials from the National Farmers Union and the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives (see box 2, folder 3) including statements, reports, news releases and clippings, speeches, memoranda, and brochures. The majority of documents are related to farm legislation from the 1960's, including statements from members of the National Farmers Union before Congressional Committees and legislative analysis memoranda. The brochures included in this collection are from various farm organizations and unions including the National Farmers Union, National Cattleman's Co-Operative, and the American Farm Bureau.