By Pauline Fletcher Cogdill

Retiring Director, John C. Webb, Jr. has a wonderful legacy to leave to his chil-dren and grandchildren. Although John C and Marlene Plain Webb were born several hundred miles from each other, little did they know their lives would be connected for the rest of their lives (they celebrated 50 years of marriage last year).

When John’s father, Clifford Webb, was serving his country in the United States Army and stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia, his firstborn son, John C. Webb, Jr. was born. After John C’s father finished his military service, he returned to his hometown in Lee, Florida. Clifford and Ina were blessed with another son, Coye and two daughters, Joeann and Nita). Marlene (one of thirteen children) was born in Cumberland, Iowa. In 1959, Marlene’s father and mother pur-chased farmland across the road from the Webb’s farm. Marjorie and Clyde learned how to farm in Florida, which is very dif-ferent from the rich soil in Iowa. Marlene learned quite young what hard work farming was all about. In fact, John C. noticed this pretty young girl on the tobacco setter setting tobacco plants. You might say their destiny was already planned from this point forward.

FARMERS COOPERATIVE

STANDARD MAIL

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT # 130

LIVE OAK, FLFARMING NEWSVol. 28, No. 2 Live Oak • Madison • Florida January 1, 2015

Co-op Director John C. Webb Retires

Farming: A Way of Life

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Continued on Page 4John C. and Marlene Webb

Barry Long and Travis Page

Farmers Cooperative continues to offer more and more precision agriculture. Precision agriculture sometimes feels like information overload, but it doesn’t have to be. Farmers Cooperative puts your farm’s agronomy and precision ag information right at your fingertips in an easy-to-use format. Our trained and experienced staff will support you with ag technology on every level. We’re here to help turn in-formation overload into simple, focused solutions and increased farm potential. Farmers Cooperative will help you to easily manage your fields as never be-fore. From simple boundary and weather tools to field imagery that captures field performance. Farmers Cooperative can precision soil sample with grid sampling that can help correct trouble areas, hot spots or weak areas. This helps to level out crop production across the field. Suc-cessful crop fertility is not a one-size-fits all approach. Site-specific fertility plans and variable rate application allow you to target inputs for maximum yield and profit across the field. From built-in-lab equations to targeted fertility goals and crop removal

values, Farmers Cooperative Rx’s are customized to fit all your fertility needs. Farmers Cooperative will also help with data management to make more informed decisions, increased yield potential, and better determine inputs. Farmers Coopera-tive can also help with field recordkeeping in order to provide accurate documentation on what was done to the crop and the field. If you have been thinking about utilizing precision agriculture on your farm, give our trained and experienced staff a call to discuss how. Farmers Cooperative can help you achieve your goals.

Plan for Advance Deposit

Farmers Cooperative’s 68 th Annua l M e m b e r s h i p Meeting was held at First Baptist

Church in Live Oak on October 4, 2014. Follow-ing registration, the meeting started at 10:00 a.m.

General Manager Todd Lawrence re-ported annual sales volume of $12,679,162 with a net profit of $405,413. Lawrence said he was pleased to report to the patrons that your Cooperative will mail Patronage Refund checks in December 2014 for those patrons who qualify for a refund. We also retired $23,796 to heirs of our deceased members in 2014.

General Manager Lawrence then dis-cussed Farmers Cooperative’s participation in the Bonnie 3rd Grade Cabbage Program. Lawrence displayed several photos of the stu-dents and their cabbages. “ It’s a good way to get the entire family involved in this educational project, and as you can see the students look for-ward to winning the pizza party for their class.” General Manager Lawrence gave a power point presentation on a local hay farmer and how much farming had improved with so much of the heavy lifting done with some of the most mod-ern equipment. Mr. Lawrence used his go pro camera to zoom in on all the work being done.

Your Cooperative helps sponsor activi-ties for FFA and 4-H activities as well as the Big Buck Contest that’s so popular with our hunters. After the business meeting, several door prizes valued at over $2,500 were awarded to the mem-bers attending the Annual Membership Meeting.

Photo: Farmers Cooperative’s youngest member, Maddie Carte, was very excited to find her first Co-op hat in her give-away bag at our Annual Meeting.

Our 5% advance deposit program will be available through January 31, 2015. For our patrons who are not familiar with the Co-op’s 5% advance deposit program, we will automatically credit your account for a 5% discount of the amount that you prepay during the month of January 2015.

The 5% discount does not apply, how-ever, to equipment construction contracts.When you have decided just how much mon-ey you will need to spend at the Cooperative for the calendar year 2015, please visit your Co-op at Live Oak or Madison and we will be happy to assist you with your farming needs.

So, if you are really interested in getting the most out of your money, our advance deposit program will give you an even greater savings than the 5% discount.

Precision AgricultureAg Information At FingertipsBy Todd Lawrence

SOIL FERTILIZER DOLLARS

ACIDITY NITROGEN PHOSPHATE POTASH WASTED LOSS PER ACRE

Extremely acid 4.5 pH 30% 23% 33% 71.34% $42.78Very Strong Acid 5.0 pH 53% 34% 52% 53.67% $32.18 Strong Acid 5.5 pH 77% 48% 77% 32.69% $19.60 Medium Acid 6.0 pH 89% 52% 100% 19.67% $8.84 Neutral 7.0 pH 100% 100% 100% 0% $0.00

With the rising cost of fertilizer it will be beneficial to correct the PH on your farm. Using the table below you can see the dollar benefit of making sure your soil has the correct PH. The example used is a blended fertilizer costing $400.00 per ton. Applied at a rate of 300 Lbs. per acre or a cost of $59.97 per acre. With a PH of 4.5 you would be losing $42.78per acre.

To help you with your PH needs Farmers Cooperative is offering the following Specials on dolomite.Kilibrew 20 ton load and spread @ $27.00 per ton Tail dumped 44 tons and spread @ $25.00 per ton

Prices good through February 14 , 2015Call us today for your dolomite needs or to schedule a soil sample for your farm at (386)

362-1459. Soil samples on five acres or more: $20.00. Free with qualifying fertilizer purchase.Now is the “time to lime” to get your crop or pasture started off right in the spring.

Limestone Makes Fertilizer Work Fertilizer Efficiency Goes Up As Soil Acids Go Down

WHAT IS YOUR SOIL PH ?

Correcting soil acidity by the use of lime is the foun-dation of a good soil fertility program. Lime does more than just correct the soil acidity. It also (1) supplies Ca and Mg

if dolomitic lime is used, which are essential plant nutrients. (2) it makes other essential nutrients more available; and (3) it prevents elements such as Mn and Al from being toxic to plant growth.

Source: Phosphate and Potash Institute

DOES THE LIMING OF ACID SOILS PAY?

ANNUAL MEETING

For the Past Quarter

NEW CO-OP MEMBERSLIVE OAK STOREClifford Bean, MayoRichard Foster, Ft. WhiteDenny Tompkins, Live OakLouise Perry, WellbornFranqueiro Dairy, Mayo Natalie Peterson, Lake CityGina and Dave Temple, Live

OakThomas N. Crosby, JasperWilliam Provau, Live OakJohn Cook, Lake CityNRG Ranch, Steve Faircloth,

Live OakPam Miller, JenningsCornel Cicilia Curt, O’BrienPatrick B Shea, Live Oak Eric Combass, JasperMaria Vitale, O’Brien Rogelio Rio, Greenville Ethan C. Roberts, O’BrienD. Rendell Manley, McAlpin Bradley Neal, Lake ButlerSharon & Ronnie Capps, Live OakAubrey Miller, JasperMamie Lee, Live OakAmanda Campbell, Live OakJane Broughton, Branford Nancy Long, WellbornLarry Alderman, LeeTony Fore, Live OakRolling R Ranch, BranfordDavid Konn, Live OakLamica Butler, Live Oak

Robin Krause, O’BrienStephanie Linton, Live OakJoe B. McClung, JasperPatricia Morgan, Live OakDosie Clay Weatherspoon, JenningsEugene Collard, Live Oak Elmer Dean Evans, Old TownGeorge & Gloria Dinsmore, Live OakSonja M. Robinson, JacksonvilleRichard Iott, Live OakTed Sutherland, McAlpinAvis C Bullard, White SpringsJeffrey S. Hauff, Zephyrhills Robert Miller, Live OakMichael Harowitz, Palm CityCandy Pert, O’BrienAlvin B Jackson, Live OakLarry T. Hall, Wellborn Keri Kimball, Live OakChristopher Combs, Jennings Kenneth Hankerson, WellbornRonald K. Gates, Live Oak Stefan D. Blue, Live OakTravis Corbin, Live OakLibby Crawford, Lake CityJames L. Laster, Jr., MayoKevin Jackson, Lake CityTina Noll, Live Oak William G. Barrett, Live OakThomas R. Terry, Dowling ParkR. Steven Beach, Live OakSandra Estevez, Live OakAcenith C. Eatmon, JasperSandra Jordan, WellbornSteven Heintz , Live OakJohn’s Lawn Equipent, Live Oak

McAlpin 4-H Club, Live OakFlorida Hardware, JacksonvilleRobert T. Snyder, Live Oak Christopher Oman, Lake City Marie Hollings, Bayshore, N YE. G. Romero, Live OakJimmy & Amy Barr, JasperBart Moore, LeeMichelle Roberts, MadisonKevin Chapman, Live OakDonald E. Pettyjohn, MacclennySue Wells, Live OakTimothy J. Holling, LeeCecil Cheshire, Live Oak Curtis L. Martin, Live OakJamie Mickle, Englewood Kathleen Woods, Live Oak

MADISON STORERay L. Padgett, PerryPaul M. Brooks III, GreenvilleTully T. Sparkman, MonticelloLori Anglin, Madison FlJohn M. C. Reeves, GreenvilleLinda Cooley/Farm Account,

LamontEarl Baggett, MonticelloLeslie Haskell, MadisonJeff Fletcher, MadisonGayle Waters, MadisonPaula Rodgers, MadisonWilliam Wimberly, GreenvilleHerbert Demott Farm, MonticelloRaymond Rodriguez, Pinetta

Ronnie O’Steen, PerryTheron Mock II, PerryLinda S Davis, MonticelloDavid Markham, Live OakJohn Hazleton, TallahasseeSylvia Butcher, Lee FlGeorge Andrews, MonticelloJarrett Lastinger, LeeMarlon Spires, MadisonDaniel Sullivan, OdessaFrankie Brady, Ft. WhiteMadeline L. Ginn, MadisonWilliam E. Reams, GreenvilleWoodrow Trowell, Ray CityGeorge J Mugge, GreenvilleJoe Eyster, JenningsCarl E. Lee, LeeJoanna S Booth, MadisonRoger J. Morris, LargoJimmie Poling, Scott OhL. K. “Skip” James, MadisonEduardo Casamayor, GreenvilleSmith Agricultural Services, LeeSharon Blanton, MadisonTimothy J Holling, LeeWilliam Gianino, MadisonCarl Hudson, JasperShelly Rice, Lee Hollis Wetherington, Perry Eric Welch, Lee Elaine H Williams, Lee Bright Logan, High Spring Randy Stanford, MadisonClint Roberts/TRF, Pinetta

If you are considering a new irriga-tion motor or grain dryer, check with Farm-ers Cooperative about incentives offered by the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) Farm IncentiveProgram. This program offers financial incentives in exchange for recording performance data of the equipment being used. These incentives range from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the type of the equipment.

The Florida PERC has also es-tablished an incentive for new propane irrigation motors that can be up to an additional $1250 on top of the National PERC program. PERC also has a pro-pane commercial lawnmower incentive

Financial IncentivesIncreasing Use of Propane on the FarmBy Todd Lawrence program that ranges from $1000 to $2500

depending on the type of equipment. If you need a propane hot water

heater, you may qualify for an incentive of $250 on the purchase of a new propane gas hot water heater. Last but not least, if

you are interested in the conversion of a vehicle to propane, we can tell you about incentives that may pay up to 50% of the cost of the conversion. So if propane is used in it, check with Farmers Coopera-tive for great incentives available.

Farming Newswww.farmerscooperative.org

Is published quarterly, or as the need arises, by Farmers Cooperative in Live Oak and Madison.Todd Lawrence, Publisher & Editor

Kenneth Dasher, McAlpin (Suwannee County)Ted Henderson, Live Oak (Suwannee County)Eddy Roberts, O’Brien (Suwannee County)E. Richard Terry, Madison (Madison County)William T. Carte (Suwannee County)Tim Steichen, Wellborn (Suwannee County)Walter K. Brown (Suwannee County)Kevin Morgan (Hamilton County)Kenneth McLeod (Madison County)Jeff Lee (Suwannee County)

Co-op Directors

P.O. Box 610 P.O. Box 390 Live Oak, FL Madison, FL 32064 32341 Phone Phone 386-362-1459 850-973-2269

John C Webb, Director, RetiresContinued from Page 1

Sweet Potato Crunch3 cups sweet potatoes

1 cup white sugar2 eggs

1/2 cup milk1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup brown sugar1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup melted butter1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Beat together potatoes, white sugar, eggs, milk and

vanilla until smooth. Pour into baking dish.

Topping - mix brown sugar, flour, melted butter & pecans together.

Spread over mixture & bake for 30 minutes.

Farming has always been a way of life for John and his family. In the late fifties and early sixties John C. can recall how they swapped farm work with other farmers. Each farm family would do the work necessary on their farm that day and move on to the next farm and complete the farming chores for that farm until each farm was completed in order to get the crops in. And on a good day when John C. worked for another farmer he would earn $4.00 to $5.00 a day. John C’s workday was from sun up to sun down, no overtime, no comp time, just hard work all day long.

John C and Marlene were diversified farmers from tobacco, sweet potatoes, hog farming, cattle, corn, soybeans, and iron clay peas as well as other row crops.

John C and Marlene are proud parents of two sons and one daughter. Son, Paul, works for Nestle Water Plant in Madison and is married to Katrina. Paul and Katrina have two sons, Paul, Jr. and Josh.

Their son, Scott, is well known for his commercial and industrial welding in Lee and Madison. There’s probably no welding job Scott can’t do. Scott and Tammy have three boys: Troy is married to Christie and they have two children a daughter, Bailie,

and a son, Clayton. Sons Amon and Chance are still single.

Daughter Christi and husband Brian Annette have two children. Son, Drew is 15 and attends Madison High School. Daughter, Abigail is 13 years old and attends Central School. If you want to know what humility is, you need to meet John C. Webb. He is a very quiet, humble man who is grateful for every day and considers it a blessing. He has many talents but you would never know any of them unless you would talk to his lovely, wife, Marlene. We learned John C. was voted Citizen of the Year in Lee, Florida in 2009. He also served on the ASC (now known as FSA) Committee for several years. The Webbs were selected “Farm Family of the Year” in 1979. John C. has been an avid supporter of the Florida Sheriff’s Association for at least 33 years. He has served on the Farm Bureau Board since 1980. John C. also served on Big Bend Farmers Cooperative Board for a few years, and just completed 16 years of dedicated service on Farmers Cooperative, Inc.’s Board.

John and Marlene are active members of Midway Baptist Church of Lee and serve in any area the church committee asks them to serve because church has always been a big part of their lives.

After the children were grown, Marlene decided to go to Cosmetology School. Upon completion of school, she began her employment with Roebuck’s in downtown Madison. Marlene will tell you she met some of the finest people in Madison while working there twelve years. Now Marlene and John C. spend much of their time with their grandchildren. Time spent with the grandchildren is the best time of their day from learning new skills in communication by learning how to text them…they don’t answer phones anymore.John’s joy is hunting and fishing and work-ing on their food plots with those precious grandchildren. As any grandparent will tell you there is just no way to measure the love you have for them.

Marlene and John also spend a lot of time visiting their mothers at the Southern Living Assisted Nursing Home in Madison, and just as Ina and Marjorie used to check on each other when they lived next door to each other, now they still check on each other just a hallway down from one another. What an amazing way love makes its full circle

with friends who care about one another. We will miss John C. Webb’s quiet but

powerful financial wisdom; however, we will be expecting regular visits from him. He did comment, “Farmers Cooperative in Madison and Live Oak is a fine group of people that I’ve enjoyed working with and our members need to come do business with us.”

GM Todd Lawrence presents plaque to retiring John C. Webb (left)