Announcing: Dot Co-op

Later this year cooperatives will be able to have their own
Internet addresses on the World Wide Web.

The international body that approves Web addresses, like the
well-known .com at the end of a Web site name, has OK’d .coop. The
other new domains that will join the existing .net, .org, and .edu
are: .aero, .biz, .info, .museum, .name, and .pro.

Paul Hazen, president and CEO of the National Cooperative Business
Association, which submitted the request for .coop, said the
decision “will give cooperatives instant recognition on the
Internet and help consumers find the businesses they trust
online.”

The .coop domain will be restricted for use by approved
cooperative businesses. There are more than 750,000 co-op
businesses in the world, including credit unions and food and
electric cooperatives, with some 725 million members.

For more information visit the National Cooperative Business
Association Web site at www.cooperative.org.

Farm safety manual

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has made a second printing
of its new Farm and Home Safety Plan. The 16-page planner gives
families the tools to establish a personalized plan for emergency
situations. The plan covers topics such as equipment operation and
maintenance, chemical storage and containment, and medical
histories of family members and employees. The publication can be
obtained by contacting the Kentucky Department of Agriculture at
(502) 564-4696. It also is available online to all Kentuckians
through the department’s Web site at www.kyagr.com.