Alabama § 2-10-54 - Powers of Association.

§ 2-10-54. Powers of Association.

Each association incorporated under this article shall have the following powers:

(1) To engage in any activity in connection with the marketing, selling, harvesting, preserving, drying, processing, canning, packing, storing, handling, ginning or utilization of any agricultural products produced or delivered to it by its members;

(2) To engage in any activity in connection with the manufacturing or marketing of the by-products thereof;

(3) To engage in any activity in connection with the purchase, hiring or use by its members of supplies, machinery or equipment;

(4) To engage in the financing of any one or more of the activities specified in this section;

(5) To borrow money and to make advances to members;

(6) To act as the agent or representative of any member or members in any of the above-mentioned activities;

(7) To purchase or otherwise acquire and to hold, own and exercise all rights of ownership in and to sell, transfer or pledge shares of the capital stock or bonds of any corporation or association engaged in any related activity or in the handling or marketing of any of the products handled by the association;

(8) To establish reserves and to invest the funds thereof in bonds or such other property as may be provided in the bylaws;

(9) To buy, hold and exercise all privileges of ownership over such real or personal property as may be necessary or convenient for the conducting and operation of any of the business of the association or incidental thereto;

(10) To establish, secure, own and develop patents, trademarks and copyrights;

(11) To do each and everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any one or more of the objects enumerated in this section, or conducive to or expedient for the interest or benefit of the association, and to contract accordingly;

(12) To exercise and possess all powers, rights and privileges necessary or incidental to the purpose for which the association is organized or to the activities in which it is engaged and, in addition, any other rights, powers, and privileges granted by the laws of this state to ordinary corporations, except such as are inconsistent with express provisions of this article and to do any such thing anywhere;

(13) To have a corporate seal;

(14) To own, buy and sell all kinds of property; and

(15) To sue and be sued.

Each association incorporated under this article may render the services mentioned in this section to nonmembers thereof as well as to members; provided, that no such incorporated association shall deal in the agricultural products of nonmembers to an amount greater in value than such as are handled by it for members and that no such incorporated association shall purchase supplies and equipment for or render farm business service to nonmembers in an amount greater in value than such as are purchased for or rendered to members. All business transacted by any cooperative association for or on behalf of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof shall be disregarded in determining the value of member or nonmember business transacted by such association.