Each association organized under this Act shall have the following powers:
(a) To engage in any activity in connection with the producing, marketing, selling, preserving, harvesting, drying, processing, manufacturing, canning, packing, grading, storing, warehousing, handling or utilizing of agricultural products the manufacturing or marketing of the by-products thereof; or in any activities in connection with the purchasing, hiring or using of supplies, machinery or equipment; or in the financing of any of the above enumerated activities; or in performing business or educational services on a co-operative basis, for those engaged in agricultural activities as bona fide producers of agricultural products, or in any one or more of the activities specified herein.(b) To borrow money from any source without limitation as to amount of corporate indebtedness or liability, with authority to give any bond or form of obligation or security therefor.(c) To act as the agent or representative of any person in any of the above mentioned activities.(d) To make loans or advances to members or stockholders and/or to their members or stockholders or to their producer patrons with authority to accept any kind, form or type of obligation and/or security, therefor; to purchase, endorse, discount and/or sell any note, draft, bill of exchange, indenture, bill of sale, mortgage or other obligation acquired by it, the proceeds of which have been advanced or used in the first instance for any of the purposes provided for herein; to discount for or purchase from any association, organized under the laws of any state with or without its endorsement any note, draft, bill of exchange, indenture, bill of sale, mortgage or other obligation the proceeds of which are advanced or used in the first instance for carrying on any co-operative activity authorized in this Act and with authority to dispose of same with or without endorsement. Any association organized under this Act and exercising any of the powers provided in this paragraph shall not engage in the business of banking.(e) To purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, own and exercise all rights of ownership in, and to sell, transfer, pledge or guarantee the payment of dividends or interest on, or the retirement or redemption of, shares of capital stock, bonds, or other obligations of any corporation or association, engaged in any directly or indirectly related activity, or in the warehousing, handling or marketing of any of the products handled by the association.(f) To establish reserves and to invest the funds thereof in bonds, or in such other property as may be provided in the by-laws.(g) To buy, hold and exercise all privileges of ownership over such real or personal property, as may be necessary or convenient for the conduct and operation of any of the business of the association, or incidental thereto.(h) To establish and secure, own and develop patents, trade-marks and copyrights.(i) To do each and everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any one of the purposes, or the attainment of any one or more of the subjects herein enumerated, or conducive to or expedient for the interest or benefit of the association, and to contract accordingly; and in addition, to exercise and possess all powers, rights and privileges necessary or incidental to the purposes for which the association is organized, or to the activities in which it is engaged; and any other rights, powers and privileges granted by the laws of this State to ordinary corporations, except such as are inconsistent with the express provisions of this Act; and to do any such thing anywhere.(j) No association organized under this Act, during any fiscal year thereof, shall deal in products, handle machinery, equipment, or supplies, or perform services for and on behalf of non-members to an amount greater in value than such as are dealt in, handled or performed by it for and on behalf of members during the same period.