November 21, 2022 (Fresno, CA) – IAP continues to grow its ownership base with the addition of Melvin Weaver and Sons, headquartered in Lancaster, PA. Led by Lindford Weaver, son of Melvin Weaver. The team at Melvin Weaver & Sons has decades of experience helping growers make agronomic decisions for their crops.
In 1975, Mel Weaver started Melvin Weaver Spray Materials. In 1977, Melvin Weaver Spray Materials moved to the Leabrook Road location in Lancaster, PA. Mel built a 36’ x 60’ warehouse and started working from his new location. For the first few years, Mel advertised in a local farming newspaper. As the business grew, he relied only on word-of-mouth advertisement.
Over the years the business grew through Mel’s trust with his customers. Many of these relationships were built over the phone with growers from all over the Northeast region. Mel and his wife Norma raised their six children—Wes, Kev, Dwane, Joanne, Sharon, and Linford at the Leabrook Road location. Dwane and Linford took on lead roles after finishing school. To recognize the company’s growing family involvement, Mel changed the company name to Melvin Weaver & Sons in 2000. Then, in 2010, Dwane and Linford became partners in the company. In 2011, they developed and added the PowerAG line of micronutrients and adjuvants to Melvin Weaver & Sons. In 2020, Dwane and Linford bought the remaining shares of the company from Mel. In 2021, Dwane passed away after fighting cancer for 3 years. His legacy, leadership, and contribution to our business will never be forgotten.
IAP is a national agricultural cooperative with global affiliations. IAP serves more than thirty independent retailer-owners with locations across the United States with sales exceeding $2 billion. Beyond negotiating competitive fertilizer and crop protection positions, IAP advocates and influences on behalf of its independent retailers across the United States. IAP helps its retailer-owners and the farmers they represent access competitive fertilizer and crop protection positions and valuable shared knowledge.
The continued growth of IAP brings excitement to IAP owners and suppliers. “Melvin Weaver and sons helps IAP bolster our lineup of independent retailers we support in the U.S. They are a great family operation that strengthens our business in the Northeast part of the country.” Said Jim Fargo President of IAP
IAP’s goal is to bring success to its suppliers, retailers and the growers they support. IAP is also a founding member of AgLink International, a global alliance of like-minded independent member organizations across Australia, Canada and Brazil. AgLink members work together to share, collaborate and create prosperity in agriculture globally.
For more information about Melvin Weaver & Sons, click here.