Top Five Recommended Fall Maintenance Tips

The growing season doesn't end with harvest. Taking care of your irrigation equipment now will prevent costly repairs and downtime next year. Give your center pivot a checkup so it will be ready to roll when planting season arrives.

To help you with post-harvest maintenance, Valley_® offers its Top Five maintenance tips:

1. Wheel Tracks - Be sure to fill deep wheel tracks during the off-season to reduce stress on irrigation, tillage, and harvest equipment. To help prevent future tracking, consider changing to a different type of tire, adding floatation, or modifying the sprinkler package to reduce water application to the wheel tracks.

2. Drive Train - To maximize the life of your drive train and keep it operating trouble-free, drain water from the wheel gearbox and center drive, and make sure the gear lubricant is at the appropriate level.

3. Pipe Flushing - Flushing your pipeline and cleaning your sand trap is essential, especially if you either have water quality problems or your irrigation water contains sand.

4. Moving Parts - Steel moving on steel without proper lubrication can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on irrigation equipment. Be sure to grease all moving parts, including the pivot point bearing, towable hubs, corner rollers, and legs.

5. Schedule Your Preventive Maintenance Check - Our Valley dealers offer winterization programs for all brands of pivots. From inspections and tire pressure checks to sprinkler package replacement, your dealer will ensure your irrigation equipment is in top condition and prepared for winter.

For more preventive maintenance tips, visit our website.

Congrats to the Best of the Best | by Brooke Stover

One thing has become very clear to me in the course of my (almost) three years of employment at Valley Irrigation: Valley dealers are the heart and soul of our company. That’s why we hold them to the highest standards in the industry. 

I know we have the hardest working dealers in the industry. They’re always doing what they can to ensure their customers’ success. While attending trade shows and Valley events, I have talked with many of these dealers and those instances have been highlights of my employment.

At Valley, we reward dealers for their hard work and recognize them for excellence in various areas of their operation through our Dealer Performance Program, which awards based on accomplishments. The most prestigious level a Valley dealer can reach is that of a Premier dealer.

I want to give a shout out to the special group of dealers who earned their place in the Valley Premier dealer category:

• Central Valley Irrigation, Holdrege, NE
• Lad Irrigation of George, Quincy, WA
• Lad Irrigation of Moses Lake, Moses Lake, WA
• MAISCO, Middlebury, IN.
• Mid-Continent Irrigation, Fremont, NE
• Tennessee Tractor, Brownsville, TN
• Valmont Northwest, Pasco, WA

If you know someone at these dealerships, then make sure to congratulate them – they definitely deserve it!

Central Valley Irrigation

Lad Irrigation of  Moses Lake 

Lad Irrigation of George 

MAISCO

Valmont Northwest

Tennessee Tractor

Mid-Continent Irrigation

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Brooke Stover Global Marketing Coordinator Brooke has been with the Valley Irrigation Global Marketing department since 2011. She spends her free time taking pottery classes; though she thoroughly enjoys this, most of her stuff is a bit lopsided. Brooke also loves to read and listen to Frank Sinatra. She enjoys traveling and has been to 19 countries with the goal to make it to six more in the next two years!

Valley Values – Durability | by Matt Ondrejko

One thing that amazes and inspires me is seeing Valley_® center pivots in the field that have been operating for 30+ years. Around the world, it is not uncommon to meet a grower who is proud to tell you his first pivot was a Valley and it is still running today. Heck, here in Nebraska, you can still see original Valley water-drive units in operation.  

The Durability of a Valley pivot is known throughout the world. That Durability is a key reason why the majority of irrigators continue to buy and recommend Valley machines to their friends and neighbors. Our customers work hard and expect their equipment to do the same thing. Valley delivers on that expectation.

Here at Valley, we have made changes to bring technology and product enhancements to the market to meet the changing needs of our customers. However, one thing we build into any change or upgrade is the promise of Durability that made the Valley name what it is today. The Valley brand is built on our performance through the years. Future success requires us to uphold and strengthen the key traits anchoring that performance.

Lasting brands stand the test of time and persevere through all the elements they are exposed to. Through blazing heat and windy winters, Valley pivots stand tall and are built to last. That’s the Durability promise that you can count on.

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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.

Some Dealerships Talk About Service, Valley Dealers Live It | by Shannon Peterson

Our Valley_® dealers are legendary for their service. Often, growers and dealers work together so closely and so well that they become friends, rather than just business associates.

Grower Alex Hawman of Hermiston, OR, recently told a member of the Valley Irrigation marketing team that his dealer is amazing.

“They always answer their phones,” Hawman said. “{And they are] always there. If we have questions, they always come up with an answer. And they’re very easy to work with. Like a friend. They are friends.”

Those kind of testimonials led us to create the “Props to Your Dealer” contest. Although the contest is winding down, there is still time for you to tell us about your Valley dealer.

Check out some of the props we received so far:

My dealer “is the best Valley dealer in South Dakota!!!!!!! Due to his service and on time work."

"I remember chatting last year with [several dealers] and they were such interesting, passionate professionals. I also recall the genuine rapport and respect that [Valley] customers had for their dealers."

Find out which dealers these customers are bragging about and read more #ValleyProps in the Props Gallery. 

Then tell us who your Valley dealer is and why he is the best. 

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Shannon Peterson Marketing Content Editor Shannon joined Valley Irrigation in 2013. She enjoys traveling with her family, particularly to national parks, and she occasionally writes about her travels for Home & Away magazine. Shannon also likes reading, trying new restaurants, seeing movies, and watching Husker football and Creighton basketball. However, she and her husband spend most of their free time chauffeuring their teenage son to activities and chasing their baby daughter.

Valley Values – Reliability | by Matt Ondrejko

Reliability is a term/feature that gets thrown around a lot by companies nowadays when they talk about how much better their products are than other brands. In fact, it has become a word that many consumers have grown weary of. However, there are people in certain industries and lines of work that require Reliability as assurance that they are getting the best proven product and that they have one less thing to worry about on the job.

In my seven months here at Valley®, I have heard the word Reliability come out of the mouth of every grower and dealer I have met when they tell me why they chose a Valley product for their operation.  

Reliability is not a label that can just be slapped on a product, it has to be earned. Reliability is something gained by days and years in the field, performing at the same high level every time. Reliability is something that maximizes your up-time and provides that sense of security that you don’t need to worry if it will work when you press the ON button. Reliability is something that the people of Valley take very seriously, because our growers and dealers do. It is our reputation and our legacy that drives the reliability we have all come to expect from a Valley product.

Valley Reliability is not something I have created, or that the current staff here has created, but we continue to deliver it with every new product we bring to market. The Reliability expectation we have achieved has been developed and delivered on with every passing year. Reliability is a value we will continue to deliver on tomorrow and well into the future.  

This is our commitment to you.


Click below to learn more about the Reliability of Valley products.

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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.

Fall Maintenance Tips

Drive Train Wheel Tracks Sprinkler Package

Depending on where you are located in the United States, harvest is either right now, very close to starting, or already complete. Before the snow comes and buries your field for the winter, be sure to take time to give your center pivot or linear a checkup so that it's prepared for the next growing season.

To help you through this post-harvest maintenance process, Valley_® offers this list of 10 maintenance tips.

1. Drive Train - To maximize the life of your drive train and keep it operating trouble-free, drain water from the wheel gearbox and center drive, and make sure the gear lubricant is at the appropriate level.

2. Wheel Tracks - Be sure to fill deep wheel tracks during the off-season to reduce stress on irrigation, tillage, and harvest equipment.  To help prevent future tracking, consider changing to a different type of tire, adding floatation, or modifying the sprinkler package to reduce water application to the wheel tracks.

3. Motor Contactors - Damaged motor contactors can reduce the life of the drive unit motor, so be sure to inspect and replace worn contactors.

4. Tire Pressure - Tires are vital to the operation of irrigation equipment. Be sure to check the pressure and tighten the lug bolts, as well as evaluate the overall tire condition.

5. Sprinkler Package - Sprinkler packages should be changed at least every 10,000 hours of operation.  Regularly check for broken or worn sprinkler components and replace them as necessary.  Also consider running a new sprinkler design which could maximize efficiency for soil and crop type.

6. Energy Efficiency - You can minimize water pumping costs by lowering pressure when possible.  To ensure that water is being used efficiently, check the machine's water pressure at the pivot point.  For sprinkler packages with pressure regulators, check the line pressure at the last tower.

7. Pivot Alignment & Pipe Flushing - Ensure the tower box microswitches are set properly.  Improper settings can cause pivot misalignment, which results in nuisance shutdowns.  Flushing your pipeline and cleaning your sand trap is essential, especially if you either have water quality problems or your irrigation water contains sand.

8. U-Joints - Evaluate the equipment for worn u-joint inserts and ensure driveshaft shields are in place for safety.

9. Electrical Connections - Be sure to power down the equipment before checking any electrical connections.  Once the power is off, check for loose connections or loose cord grips in tower boxes.

10. Moving Parts - Steel moving on steel without proper lubrication can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on irrigation equipment.  Be sure to grease all moving parts, including the pivot point bearing, towable hubs, corner rollers, and legs.

For more information on how you can make the best of your investment with irrigation machine maintenance, contact your local Valley dealer.

Props to Your Valley Dealer - Tell Your Dealer Why You Love Them | by Kelly Cox

Everyone likes to receive a compliment - it gives you the warm fuzzies…and sometimes a big head, but let’s focus more on the warm fuzzies. Even your Valley_® dealer likes to hear that he and his crew are doing a great job! That’s why Valley Irrigation has created a super special social page on its Facebook Timeline called “Give Props to Your Valley Dealer.” 

Though the word is used a lot in modern music lyrics and such, you may be wondering what in the world “props” is (or are). In the words of the great Google, let me explain:

props
//präps//
noun informal
1. respect or credit due to a person.
“Kelly gave her husband props for brushing the cat without having to be asked.”

Through the "Give Props to Your Valley Dealer" social page, Valley customers like you have the opportunity to share with the world why their Valley dealer is the best! But, we won’t keep these compliments to ourselves, there’s no need to be selfish! We’ll share them on all of our social channels (Facebook, Twitter, and Google+), as well as with the dealers themselves!

Don't want to formally submit your props on the "Give Props to Your Valley Dealer" page, but still want your Valley dealer to know how much you appreciate his hard work? No problem - just use the hashtag #ValleyProps on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ along with your compliment and dealer's name (and a picture of your Valley machine, if you like)!

That being said, we want YOU to give props to your Valley dealer! Tell your dealer how much you appreciate his hard work in helping to keep your operation moving throughout the year. 

There are several ways to give props:

• Facebook – Give Props to Your Valley Dealer social page (www.valleyirrigation.com/Props), or share on our Timeline using the #ValleyProps hashtag
• Twitter – Tweet using the #ValleyProps hashtag (please also mention @ValleyPivots, if you have enough characters)
• Google+ – Share using the #ValleyProps hashtag

Tell your dealer how much you love him today -  "Give Props to Your Valley Dealer" is only around for a limited time!

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Kelly Cox Global Digital Marketing Manager Kelly joined the Valley Irrigation Global Marketing Department in 2008. Her love of all things geek (steampunk furniture, anime, Doctor Who, and science fiction/fantasy literature, just to name a few) helped shape her appreciation for technology and the web. Kelly is a newlywed and new homeowner, where she shares her geekery with her husband and cat Kiba. She considers herself a wine connoisseur (though, 3 buck Chuck is delicious!) and has a love of painting, dance, and singing.

Valley - The Best Value

Originally published in PivotPoint Spring 2011.

Valley Precision Corner®

Valley 8000 series Center Pivot

Valley dealer troubleshooting control panel

Growers are famous for being shrewd consumers. With every dollar hard earned from real, physical labor, they’re not going to waste it. The bottom line is value. Growers find that value in a variety of ways when they invest in Valley_® equipment. That’s made Valley the leader in center pivot and linear irrigation, and their products the first choice of growers all across the country.

According to Brad Johnson, owner of BRJ Farms near Holdrege, Nebraska, the durability and reliability of a Valley is what gives him peace of mind. With a large number of soybean, corn, and seed corn acres, Johnson knows the vital role reliable irrigation equipment plays. “I’ve been around pivots for a long time, and I’ve chosen Valley center pivots for almost all of my ground. My father and I both trust Valley because we just don’t have breakdowns. We just don’t. These are long-lasting pivots and they’re made well,” he shared.

Johnson understands value. Valley center pivots are engineered, constructed, and field-tested to handle growers’ varying and challenging operating conditions. They are known to have the most durable structure in the market place and have a longer life span than other product brands proven by independent tests. Finally, they command the highest resale value.

Brad’s Valley dealer, Central Valley Irrigation in Holdrege, Nebraska, likes to show growers in his area that the value of Valley machines starts from the ground up. “I like to take growers out to the manufacturing facility about an hour away from us. They see that these structures are made in an environment that is clean and professional. They see the steel when it comes out on a trailer. This is where it starts. Valley is committed to building things right, and that’s where durability begins.” He also shows growers who visit his dealership the stress tests that Valley has published on their structures. “When we talk about the durability of our structures, it’s important that they see the stress tests that have been done to prove the value of this. Valmont Irrigation really invests in these structures.”

Chuck Messersmith of Western Valley Irrigation in Alliance, Nebraska, believes the structural integrity of Valley machines is key. “The overall structure and the strength in engineering in the physical structure of Valley machines are a big part of the value for growers,” he explained.

Messersmith also pointed out that the clean lines and integrity of the span design is also an important detail he points out to growers. “The shape of the pipeline itself, the crown, shows a superior design. The structure is supported uniformly and the stress is more evenly distributed. When customers want to know why Valley machines have a longer life than other machines, I tell them that this is part of the reason behind that long life span.”

Custom-designed pipes and trussing, along with forged truss rods with a larger root radius and head diameter add to this strength – and to the long term value of Valley machines. Welded sprinkler outlets provide the most durable option when compared to other methods and also protect against a loss of water pressure, vital to precision water applications.

Well-made tower control boxes are another feature that adds value to Valley equipment. The main base component of the control box is made of steel rather than plastic. Other machine brands use plastic. All switches and control mechanisms are mounted on steel in Valley tower control boxes., and that increases the tolerance for clearance in the moving parts. The steel helps keep the alignment where it should be and is more durable.

The Valley gearbox is the pinnacle of the Valley drive train and yet another feature that proves industry leadership. It is designed and manufactured at Valmont Irrigation’s manufacturing facility in Valley, Nebraska, so that quality can be ensured. Messersmith, of Western Valley Irrigation, says “The truth about the gearbox is that you don’t have to sell it to growers – they already know that Valley gearboxes are better. They already know the difference!”

Finally, legendary Valley service is a big part of the overall value of a Valley machine to growers, according to Johnson of BRJ Farms. “Service is a huge one for me. The response time from my Valley dealer, Central Valley Irrigation, is amazing. They are there within an hour. It is fixed correctly the first time. The winter program is also awesome. They went through each pivot of mine last year and I went without any service calls during the irrigation season. They are just dependable – the machines and the company.”

Valley dealers are known to have a true caring for their customers. “Our customers are not just somebody we hope will buy something from us, but someone we can work with hand in hand to make irrigation work,” added Messersmith of Western Valley Irrigation.

For more information on Valley equipment, visit www.ValleyIrrigation.com.

Congratulations, JR Simplot Company on Your New Gator | by Jill Zwiener

Congratulations to another Valley Gator Giveaway winner, JR Simplot Company of Grand View, ID! JR Simplot was entered into the giveaway after purchasing Valley center pivots from Valley Dealer Interwest Supply last fall. Kent Kidd, Valley Irrigation Territory Manager, awarded the Gator to the lucky winners last month. 

Have fun with your new Gator, JR Simplot Company! We hope it helps you be more productive on your operation.

Pictured (left to right): Cole Kaiserman, Interwest Supply salesperson for Simplot, Danny Stimpson, Simplot Farm Supervisor, Kent Kidd, Valley Irrigation Territory Manager, Bob Evans, Simplot Farm Manager.

Jill Zwiener Global Marketing Communications Administrator Jill joined the Valley Irrigation team in 2011. She loves country music, fountain soda, food, college football, and the ski slopes of Colorado. She enjoys using photography to freeze the precious bits of time with her family into pictures that she can cherish for years.