Valley at Russia's Agrosalon 2014 | by Cristina Morozov

Agrosalon is an international specialized exhibition displaying the latest agricultural machinery, as well as technological innovations in the agribusiness industry.

The largest agricultural machinery exhibition, Agrosalon is an exceptional networking opportunity for farmers and businesses to exchange experiences, enlarge visions about efficient farming approaches, and develop future strategies and practices in agricultural business.

Valley Irrigation, Agrosalon 2012

Beyond the chance to socialize and learn about the most sophisticated practices in the industry, exhibition visitors will have a great opportunity to see our Valley_® Irrigation equipment and get advice from our participating professionals and Valley dealers.

If you’re interested in discovering the latest and most-efficient irrigation machinery in the industry, and getting solid professional advice, make sure to visit the Valley booth at Agrosalon 2014, Oct. 7-10 in Moscow, Russia.

For further information about the exhibition, please visit www.agrosalon.ru (Russian) or www.agrosalon.com (English).

Venue address:
Trade and exhibition complex Crocus City, Crocus Expo International Exhibition Complex.
Box office Krasnogorsk-4, P.O.BOX 92, 65-66 km Moscow Ring Road,
143400, Moscow area, Krasnogorsk, Russia.

Exhibition Management:
Tel: +7 (495) 781 37 56;
Fax: +7 (495) 781 37 08;
E-mail: agrosalon@agrosalon.ru

Международная специализированная выставка сельскохозяйственной техники АГРОСАЛОН – центральная отраслевая площадка для демонстрации новейших технических решений в агропромышленном комплексе. АГРОСАЛОН – единственная в России выставка представляющая продукцию всех крупнейших мировых производителей.

Valley Irrigation, Agrosalon 2012

Выставка АГРОСАЛОН замечательная возможность для посетителей и участников оценить и представить новейшие технические достижения и последние инновационные разработки, а также продумать будущие стратегии для развития агропромышленности. По мимо возможности пообщаться и узнать о самых послендних новинках в отрасли, гости выставки смогут посетить стэнд Valley, а также получить консультацию от наших участвующих специалистов и дилеров.

Если вы заинтересованы в эффективных системах орошения, а также хотите получить качественную профессиональную консультацию приглашаем вас посетить стэнд    Valley, на выставке АГРОСАЛОН 2014 которая пройдет с 07 по 10 октября 2014 года в Москве, в международном выставочном центре «Крокус Экспо».

АДРЕС

Метро Мякинино (Арбатско-Покровская линия), III павильон МВЦ «Крокус-Экспо», залы 12, 13, 14, 15
Почтовый адрес:
143400, Московская область, г. Красногорск
п/о «Красногорск-4», а/я 92, 65-66 км МКАД
Торгово-выставочный комплекс «Крокус Сити», «МВЦ Крокус Экспо».

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Cristina Morozov Valley Irrigation Intern Cristina joined the Valley Irrigation Global Marketing Department in January. Originally from Moldova, Cristina earned a bachelor’s degree in management and economics from the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg, Germany; and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Academy of Economic Studies in Moldova. She is working toward her Master of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. in her free time she enjoys travelling, reading, dancing, and trying to learn to play tennis.

It’s Time for Spring! | by Kelly Downing

I must be getting old. I find myself whining about what a long, cold winter this was. Normally, I love, really love, winter. I like snow, I appreciate what the winter freeze-thaw cycles do for our soil structure, I enjoy visualizing weeds and insects dying in the cold, and—let’s face it—I am built for cold weather. But even I thought this winter really hung on a long time. It didn’t help that it has been so dry where I live. To be honest, I am fairly concerned about dry soil conditions and how this growing season will play out, especially since we seem to be in a pretty dry weather pattern going into the spring. Of course, in many areas it has been exceedingly wet, which is causing some planting delay concern.

As Charles Dudley Warner said, “Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it;” I guess I am no different. The fact is, though, that spring is finally breaking upon us, and we are getting itchy to plant. This is the time of year when anticipation runs high, and we simultaneously worry about how the season will go and thrill at the chance to start a new crop cycle. 

This year, as in most, there are a lot of uncertainties facing us as we head to the field—commodity prices, weather patterns, regulatory uncertainty. However, this is an optimistic time of year for farmers. There is something neat about putting seeds into the ground and watching them germinate, grow, and produce a crop. Fall is definitely my favorite season, as we gather the harvest and see the result of the year’s work. But there is a special eagerness that comes with spring, too.

We will have a couple of new cooperators in our Circles for Rice program this summer, and I will report on their crops and progress throughout the season. There is increasing interest in growing rice this year due to the market conditions for it and for competing crops. As this interest continues, the opportunity to expand acreage through the use of pivot irrigation will become more popular as well. Research interest is increasing, which will lead to better information and more resources for producers who adopt this practice. I look forward to sharing more with you during the summer.

As you get into the field, remember to be careful. Rest when you are tired, eat when you are hungry, pet the dog, and be sure to take some time each day for your family. Have a safe planting season, and we wish you a great year. Stay in touch, and let us know how things are going with you.

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Kelly Downing International Ag Project Specialist Kelly, a Nebraska-based Irrigation Specialist, spent 10 years working on soil and water research projects for a major agricultural university, involving a variety of crops. His work focused on irrigation management, but also included other topics. Since joining Valley Irrigation, he has worked in the service, product management, product reliability, and sales. Kelly now focuses on developing projects in irrigation field management and providing recommendations for the Circles for Rice project. Kelly has traveled to several countries providing technical support, such as soil moisture monitoring and irrigation management training.

Ways to Celebrate Earth Day | by Cristina Morozov

The 21st Century is imposing a lot of pressure on the planet and its people. The ever-increasing urbanization trend requires efficient methods of managing energy and water, and requires more powerful pollution management.

Photo credit calibermag.org

We, at Valley_® Irrigation, believe in waste-free production processes and effective pollution management. Together with the rest of the world, we will celebrate the Earth Day on April 22. 

Here are some ways that you can contribute and celebrate as well: 

• Ride your bike, take a bus, or carpool to work.
• Enjoy lunch or afternoon walks in a nearby park with your family, friends, and pets.
• Plant flowers or trees in your backyard.
• Grow your own plants and produce. You may not harvest a lot of produce, but you will enjoy the process, plus gardening is an extraordinary hobby. 
• Volunteer at a local organization that keeps your community greener and healthier.
• Recycle, recycle, and recycle! Recycle bottles, cans, paper, and more in your office and home. 
• Dispose of recyclable items in your home and office cleanly. Reach out to local recycling organizations for more information.
• Print less! Switch to electronic documents. Initiate an e-documents movement in your office.
• Celebrate Earth Day every day! Turn these habits into your lifestyle and lead by example.

Let’s save the planet for our future generations. Have a happy Earth Day!

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Cristina Morozov Valley Irrigation Intern Cristina joined the Valley Irrigation Global Marketing Department in January. Originally from Moldova, Cristina earned a bachelor’s degree in management and economics from the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg, Germany; and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Academy of Economic Studies in Moldova. She is working toward her Master of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. in her free time she enjoys travelling, reading, dancing, and trying to learn to play tennis.

Bringing Tire Technology to the Ag Industry | by Vanessa Hargrave

Almost half of U.S. drivers don't
recognize tire-pressure warning light.
Read more...

TPMS is an acronym that in the last decade has risen from a basically unknown term to a household name. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the mass majority really understands what TPMS means, how the technology works, and the benefits it can provide to users. Possibly even more unknown is the wide-use applications that TPMS can be utilized on to add those benefits; including uses in the agriculture market. Luckily, Valley® Irrigation and PressurePro™ have teamed up to help growers better understand what TPMS is, how it works and how you can put it to work for your operations.

First, what is TPMS? TPMS traditionally stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems. Typically, a TPMS unit consists of two main components; Sensors, which fit either to a valve stem or in a tire, and a Monitor, which fits in-cab or at a central location. Sensors use RF signals to send low-pressure alerts to the Monitor, so a driver or operator is aware of the problem. Today; however, PressurePro has helped morph this definition, through expanded technology capabilities, to Tire Performance Management Solutions.

No longer are TPMS units simply providing low-pressure warnings. Today, leading units can give users complete performance information, including real-time readings, high- and low-pressure and temperature alerts, data-logged information, remote-monitoring capabilities, and more. Essentially, these small units can provide users with a complete view of tire performance, both real time and historically, so users can better analyze, diagnose, remedy, and even predict tire problems before they become costly.

In the transportation market, this is helping fleets of all types and sizes revolutionize tire maintenance programs while adding significant savings and efficiencies. Tires run at optimal pressure save fuel, experience extended life and decreased downtime, and create safer driving conditions through improved handling and braking, and more. But that’s in trucking, how can TPMS assist me with my operation or on my Ag equipment?

The parallels between the transportation market and ag market are many. Just as with transportation, up-time, efficiency, and yield are top priorities for growers. A tractor, combine, crop hauler, or center pivot experiencing equipment downtime due to a tire problem cripples work. In the case of a center pivot, experiencing low tire pressure not only decreases yield, it can literally rip up your profits by plowing through crops and causing costly damage to tires, rims, and gearboxes. To help growers combat these losses of efficiency and yield, PressurePro and Valley partnered to create Valley TPMS – a custom solution for center pivots.

Valley TPMS not only allows users of Valley Pro2 control panels the ability to receive real-time tire performance information directly on their control panel, it also brings remote-monitoring capabilities to Valley BaseStation™ users; literally putting tire performance at their fingertips. Used by Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) in New Mexico, Valley TPMS has helped NAPI bring real-time monitoring to an operation that includes more than 10,000 tires.NAPI Irrigation Manager Anthony Valdez said that detecting a low tire before it fails has decreased pivot downtime during the peak irrigation season, when irrigating is critical to maximizing yields. 

"The ability to identify low-pressure warnings in the tires also has really helped to reduce service costs," Valdez said. "With the tire pressure monitoring system, we can now preempt labor and fuel costs, as well as time, by knowing when a tire is low."  

To learn more about Valley TPMS or how TPMS can be put to work for your operations, contact your local Valley dealer.

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Vanessa Hargrave PressurePro Vanessa is a guest writer for the Growing the Conversation blog by Valley. As PressurePro's Director of Marketing, Vanessa is in charge planning and executing all of the company's national and international marketing campaigns. With PressurePro since 2004, she is responsible for developing, designing, and maintaining all of PressurePro's branding, advertising, and marketing campaigns. A noted voice in TPMS education and information, Vanessa remains devoted to safety, savings, and environmental benefits, both on-road and off, through revolutionized tire management.

Valley Values – Precision | by Matt Ondrejko

The Valley_® brand tag line is “The Leader in Precision Irrigation.” 

Valley VRI Zone Control can divide a field
into more than 5,000 management zones

This statement was not arbitrarily chosen or one that simply sounded good to us. On the contrary, it encompasses the approach we take on every product we build, every solution we engineer, and every application we develop for our customers.  

We – here at Valley – pride ourselves on the reliability and durability we build into every product that we engineer and manufacture, and that is a direct function of the strict quality standards we hold ourselves to. The precision in our manufacturing processes result in products that are efficiently and correctly built time and time again, assuring our customers of the Valley quality they have come to expect over the last 60 years.  

Our engineered solutions, such as Variable Rate Irrigation, water application, and BaseStation3™, provide our growers with precise water application and remote management when and where they need it.  

Precision is ingrained in our way of life at Valley.  

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Matt Ondrejko VP Global Marketing The one word that can sum up Matt is "enthusiasm!" He likes to be on-the-go and have fun along the way. Matt loves music and the 1980s era. He is a child of the MTV generation and has a deep appreciation of all music genres (specifically, he is a huge Dave Matthews Band groupie). Matt has traveled to more than 70 countries around the world and enjoys learning about different cultures and people. He spent three years living with his family in Leuven, Belgium, trying to enjoy as many of the 700+ beers they brew there.

Four Tips for Getting Your Sprinklers Ready to Roll

Winter means downtime for sprinklers. As the new growing season approaches (in North America), it is important to get your machine ready, and the sprinkler package is a key item to focus on.

Here are some tips to get your sprinkler package into tip-top shape:

1. Use the sprinkler reports supplied with the sprinkler package and check that all sprinkler components are correct and installed in the proper location on the machine.

2. Operate the sprinkler package (running the machine with water) and visually inspect all sprinklers to verify they are operating correctly. Inspect sprinklers for variations in the water pattern. Problems to look for are plugged nozzles or worn wear plates.

3. Watch for leaks from the sprinkler, pressure regulator, and drop components when running the machine with water. Replace broken or damaged components.

4. Check that the operating pivot pressure matches the design pressure. For sprinkler packages with pressure regulators, Valley_® recommends placing a pressure gauge in the drop tube at the end of the machine at the highest elevation in the field to verify that the end pressure is sufficient to operate the pressure regulators. All pressure regulators require 5 PSI over the nominal pressure rating that is stamped on the regulator. For example, a 10 PSI pressure regulator requires 15 PSI entering the regulator for proper operation.

Finally, don’t forget that at about 10,000 operating hours, growers should consider replacing sprinklers and pressure regulators. This varies based on water quality issues, such as using clean water or dirty water, and whether the water includes sand or other debris. At 10,000 hours, wear in the sprinkler nozzle, sprinkler wear plate, and pressure regulator will alter the sprinkler flow rate and water pattern distribution, which reduces the sprinkler package uniformity.

New sprinkler components - combined with a properly designed complete sprinkler package - ensure uniformity and efficiency are at the highest possible values. High uniformity and efficiency ensure that you are maximizing yields from the valuable water you apply during the season.

To summarize, your sprinkler package is one of the most critical components on a center pivot or linear machine – don’t be afraid to invest in new and updated technology.

Adapted from PivotPoint Spring 2012 

New Global Blog Posts | by Michelle Stolte

The world is a big place, and yet there are so many similarities through all our countries that sometimes it takes me by surprise. 

Starting this spring, we will be including blog posts from our co-workers around the world, who have graciously agreed to submit updates to us for our blog. They will enlighten us all about the vast differences as well as the similarities between agriculture and irrigation in their markets versus ours here in the USA.  

Our colleagues will talk about the happenings in their markets - this may be an agricultural field day or trade show, a new project we just installed, struggles of the local growers, or information about the market in general. I think you will find these posts interesting, maybe eye-opening, and potentially not that different from what you experience in your own backyard. 

Please help welcome our new global bloggers to the Growing the Conversation blog!

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Michelle Stolte Global Marketing Manager Michelle has been at Valley Irrigation for more than 10 years and is finally no longer a newbie! She has spent her entire time at Valley in the Marketing Department (international and domestic) and loves every minute of it. Michelle enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband. She also likes reading, swing dancing (although she isn't really that good...), and warm weather.