MFA Incorporated not affiliated with MFA Livestock since early 1980s

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2001

COLUMBIA, MO--The Midwest regional cooperative, MFA Incorporated, with its wide network of MFA Agri Services Centers is in no way associated with the former MFA Livestock Association, said Don Copenhaver, president and CEO of MFA Incorporated. MFA Incorporated, established in 1914, has total sales in excess of half a billion dollars. MFA Incorporated officials several years ago asked the livestock association to discontinue use of the MFA name.

Although the livestock association used the MFA name until several years ago, since the early 1980s the livestock association has been a separate and distinct entity with different boards and a different organization. Shortly after MFA Incorporated's formal request, the livestock association merged its operations with Producers Livestock of Ohio.

In 1958, the board and officers of MFA Incorporated created MFA Livestock Association to meet the needs of livestock farmers in the cooperative's territory. But starting in the late 1970s, MFA Incorporated gradually severed its relationship with the livestock association. Since that time, both organizations have continued on completely different paths.

In the interim, MFA Incorporated developed its own livestock marketing organization which markets both cattle and hogs. The cattle portion, MFA Health Track Beef Alliance, was developed in 1996 and assists MFA members with adding value to approximately 35,000 cattle, all of which are equipped with electronic identification. The electronic ID helps track those cattle from birth to slaughter. The program results in substantial premiums for MFA members. Also last fiscal year MFA Incorporated's swine network marketed more than 250,000 hogs.