Telemetry systems are found in many places – cars, smart meters, power sources, robots, and more. In agriculture, telemetry is becoming a popular tool for monitoring farm equipment. Did you know you can access and control your center pivot using your smart phone or computer?

Soybeans are the leading oilseed crop produced globally. Like other legumes, soybeans are valued for their high protein content, with about 35 to 40 percent of their calories from protein. Because of this high protein content, soybeans are extremely important in the animal feed industry.

If you grow soybeans, you know how important it is to know what the water requirements of the plant are. At each growth stage of a soybean plant, different water requirements will be needed for optimal growth and yields.

Corn is one of the most important crops grown around the world. Although you may not realize it, corn is used in the things you use every day. From the corn meal used in items such as bagels and breads, to the sorbitol used in some toothpastes, corn is a very common ingredient. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, there were 1.04 billion metric tons of corn produced worldwide in 2014.

If you grow corn, you know how important it is to know what the water requirements of the plant are. At each growth stage of a corn plant, different water requirements will be needed for optimal growth and yields.

There are a number of tools you need to keep your center pivot irrigation system operating properly. Sometimes, the most valuable tools are not the ones in your toolbox. Software solutions, like Valley_® BaseStation3™ can be just as valuable of a tool as your favorite pair of pliers.

July is Smart Irrigation Month and our friends at Valley® Irrigation are making sure they use water wisely every month of the year. From irrigating efficiently with variable rate irrigation (VRI) to ensuring consistency with precision corner irrigation technology, Valley is leading the way with water conservation efforts.

A new competition is being played in fields across Nebraska where growers take on University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists and students to see who can out-farm the other. This competition is called Testing Ag Performance Solutions, or TAPS. 

There are a lot of factors to consider when converting to a different form of irrigation. What type of irrigation should you switch to? What changes will need to be made to your management? How do you make this transition as easy as possible?

Valley Develops Solution For Pipeline Corrosion

Problem areas with low pH concentrations in the aquifer would require alternate solutions for farmers, and would eventually lead to Valley® engineers developing a permanent solution to pipeline corrosion issues in 1992 with their PolySpan® product line.

Advancements in technology have allowed crop irrigation pipelines to run with minimal problems for years at a time. New products and techniques such as digital control panels, sprinkler packages, and protective coatings like galvanizing have extended these machine’s lives considerably, and have secured irrigation pipelines as a lasting investment.

Generation upon generation of Nebraska farmers have worked to optimize their use of water through irrigation. In recent years, Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) – which matches the water application rate of center pivots to specific areas of a farmer’s field that need more or less water – has garnered attention as a way to optimize water use and yields.