LEGAL FORMAT
Nation-wide, private, non-profit institution, founded on October 3, 1871.

FUNCTIONS
Its cornerstone is the conviction that dedication to this association should be vocational as well as professional, and that the best way to look after the agro-business interests is through its strategic insertion in the country's economy to promote its development and a better quality of life for its inhabitants. Consequently, the association's actions are based on the knowledge and experience of its leaders as well as on a technical body that supports the institution in the decision-making process.

The work and operation of the association is based on permanent contributions and on the search of macro and interest-section policies to boost the rural and agri-business into the realm of free enterprise, market economy and healthy competition.

SERVICES
The Rural Association of Uruguay (Asociación Rural del Uruguay, ARU) offers a variety of services which benefit not only its members but also the entire range of producers.

ADVICE
Function:
To fulfill one of the goals set by any modern association: the communication and processing of inquiries related to the field. That is to gather requests and queries from people, and to inform systematically, based on years of experience. The system works with specific questions and requests for orientation, since it is not expected to compete against private, professional advice.

Users' benefits:
The availability of a reliable source of information to:

• answer specific questions
• direct users to specialists
• find out interests, information and suggestions for its performance, thus making ARU's work better

Based on:

• a wide networking system
• experience

With the purpose of:

• saving time
• being advised
• being heard
• finding answers

MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
ARU, 125 years after its foundation, encompasses almost 2,000 members nation-wide. The Institution's performance is also developed through its trade associations and societies, each and every one of which in its specialty, works to make the agri-business better, and to orient users within its guidelines and towards its specific objectives.

Currently 41 associations with over 5,000 members from all the country make up part of the Institution through their actions, and they work for the agricultural development. They are pedigree- bovine, ovine, swine, equine, goat, poultry, rabbit- breeders, apiculturists, forestry producers, farmers who consume biological products, and business-people at agro and eco-tourism, among others.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr Juan Miguel Silva Y Rosas

The President of the Board of Directors of the Rural Association of Uruguay is a stockman and agricultural producer in the department of Artigas. Mr. Juan Miguel Silva y Rosas, 46, holds a Doctorate in Law, and is married to Ms. Daisy Cash.

Dr. Silva y Rosas is the technical manager of the family livestock known by the name of "San Bernardo." The breeders at "San Bernardo" have repeatedly obtained the highest honors for their Merino and Australian Poll Merino at the Prado exhibition (in Montevideo) as well as at the most representative shows for this breed in the rest of the country (departments of Salto, Artigas and Tacuarembó).

Dr. Silva y Rosas's personal background includes having been a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Australian Merino Breeders for several terms. He held office as President of the association during 1994-95. Moreover, he also was the President of this breed IV World Congress, which took place in our country in 1994.

As a representative of the Agricultural Cooperative of Salto Ltd. (CALSAL), Dr. Silva y Rosas was the delegate before the Australian Merino Operation from the Uruguayan Wool Center.

In the realm of the Rural Association of Uruguay (ARU), Dr. Silva y Rosas represented the institution before the Uruguayan Secretariat of Wool (1991-95); he was part of the Board of Directors of ARU as a regular member during the term between 1992 and 94; and as the Secretary between 1994 and 96. He has also been in office as the President of the 125th Anniversary Committee since its creation in 1995.