An association may organize, form, operate, own, control, have an interest in, own stock of, or be a member of any other association or corporation, with or without capital stock, and engaged in preserving, drying, processing, canning, packing, storing, warehousing, handling, shipping, utilizing, manufacturing, marketing or selling of agricultural products or by-products thereof, or in the co-operative manufacturing, selling or supplying of machinery, equipment and supplies; or in performing business or educational services; or in the financing of any of the above enumerated activities.
     If such associations or corporations are warehousing corporations, they may issue legal warehouse receipts to the association against the commodities delivered by it, or to any other person and such legal warehouse receipts shall be considered as adequate collateral to the extent of the usual and current value of the commodity represented thereby. In case such warehouse is licensed or licensed and bonded under the laws of this or any other State of the United States, its warehouse receipt delivered to the association on commodities of the association or its members, or delivered by the association or its members, shall not be challenged or discriminated against because of ownership or control, wholly or in part, by such association or corporation.