[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17062]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          COMMEMORATING VALMONT IRRIGATION'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I am pleased and proud 
to congratulate a leading Nebraska company that this year is 
celebrating its 50th anniversary as the world's preeminent mechanized 
irrigation manufacturer. Valmont Industries' development of the center 
pivot technology has revolutionized agricultural production, not just 
in the United States, but around the world. At the same time, this 
technology uses far less water than other traditional means of 
irrigation such as flood and drip, and preserves water quality by 
reducing nonpoint source pollution because it lessens the use of 
pesticides and fertilizers. Valmont's products allow us to grow 
significantly more crops and produce greater crop revenue, all while 
protecting our vital natural resources.
  I am sure my colleagues are familiar with the center pivot. When you 
fly across the country and see huge circles in the middle of farmland, 
those are created by the center pivots manufactured in my home town of 
McCook and Valley, where they were first developed. In fact, the brand 
name is popularly known as Valley pivots.
  You can also see Valley center pivots and linear and corner machines 
at work in over 100 countries. All told, the company maintains 
irrigation manufacturing and distribution facilities in five states and 
six countries on six continents.
  I worked with Valmont officials during my tenure as Governor, and I 
continue to work with Mogens Bay, chairman and chief executive officer 
for Valmont; Bob Meaney, senior vice president; and Tom Spears, 
president of the Irrigation Division; as well as the company's 
Washington representatives at Bob Lawrence & Associates. In addition, I 
am also quite familiar with other Valmont products, since it is also 
the world's foremost manufacturer of engineered poles for electrical 
transmission, lighting, traffic signs and signals, and wireless 
communications.
  Today, a half century after Bob Daugherty improved and marketed the 
first center pivot, Valmont has produced an estimated 145,000 center 
pivots, linear, and corner machines, which successfully irrigate more 
than 14 million crop acres, and can effectively promote the growth of 
virtually any crop.
  I congratulate Valmont and its dedicated workers for their half 
century of innovation and initiative as well as for their success in 
helping to feed the world while protecting our environment. These are 
truly remarkable legacies.

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