THIS EDITION
T-L IRRIGATION CO.
6 “The T-L Has Allowed Me
More Quality Time With My Family.”
8 Times … And Needs … Have Changed
10 First Choice in Pivots
A 200-Bushel
Yield Boost
T-L pivots provide more net profit without
additional investment in rent or land purchases.
When he put together the budget
for four T-L center pivot irrigation
systems in 2012, Bob Wade, Jr.
based the financial sheet on an
average increase of 50 bushels
of corn per acre. As it turned out,
the difference was closer to 200
bushels per acre.
Thanks to the severe drought
that hit much of the Midwest that
year — including the area around
Glendale, Kentucky, where Wade
farms approximately 4,000 acres
of wheat, corn and soybeans —
corn yields on dryland fields were
anywhere from 30 to 70 bushels
per acre. In the meantime, yields
under Wade’s T-L pivots were in
Permit No. 68
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Wichita, KS
PAID
Hastings, Nebraska 68902-1047 USA
T-L Irrigation Company
P.O. Box 1047
PAGE 3 PAGE 11
T-L CELEBRATES
INTRODUCES PMDI 60 YEARS OF
(Precision Mobile Drip Irrigation) BUSINESS
IRRIGATION VIEW
WINTER 2014
the range of 250 bushels.
“We had some soybeans under
the pivot that year, too,” Wade
relates. “But the yield difference
wasn’t as dramatic because we
finally got some rain in late July
and August, which helped the
soybeans along. As a result, we
averaged around 53 bushels per
acre on dryland beans, with some
fields under irrigation into the 70s.
But with no rain and 106-degree
days, the dryland corn was gone
by the end of July.”
Wade says in addition to
the moisture the center pivots
provided, the water also cooled
Bob Wade - Glendale, KY
the fields.
See Yield Boost on page 2
Even though Michael Shafel and
REMOTE
Progressive
his father, Jim Shafel, grow as little
CONTROL as 40 acres of field corn under the
Get the most out of your T-L Technology name Sunnydale Farms, they still
benefit from today’s high corn
system with our variety of Pivot
Control options. Program the Builds On Itself prices. However, it’s not in the way
one might think.
speed, application rate, and
The use of T-L towable Because they’re located in
direction to achieve the most
pivots on one Wisconsin northern Wisconsin, near the
efficient water usage. T-L
potato farm has actually small town of Bryant, the Shafel
pivots give users the assurance
opened new doors. farm is actually too far north to
of uniform water application,
grow high-production, full-season
improved crop production, and
effective system management. See Progressive Technology on page 7
HEAR WHAT
OUR CUSTOMERS
HAVE TO SAY
www.tlirr.com
 2 | IRRIGATION VIEW
Wade / Yield Boost
“It was probably 10 degrees
cooler in the corn under the
pivots,” he recalls. “Of course, the
pivots were running almost 24/7
during the drought. That’s when
you realize just how important it is
to have some of the crops under
irrigation.”
Due in part to that early success,
Wade added four more T-L pivots
in the spring of 2013, followed by
another two in the fall, bringing
the total under irrigation to nearly
1,000 acres. All but one, he says,
make a full circle, covering 60 to
120 acres each. While most of them
pull water directly from nearby
rivers, the three located near the
farmstead were a little more of a
challenge. Consequently, Wade is
building a new six-acre pond near
his house to serve as a continuous
water supply.
“It’s designed to hold almost
46 million gallons and supply more precise than it has been
around 800 acres,” he says. “In when we had it flown on.”
the meantime, the pond will get Wade had more in mind than
its water from a well that pumps just the precision provided by
about 500 gallons per minute and continuous-movement, hydraulic
a wet-weather creek that feeds drive, though. He also credited
into it,” he adds, noting that he Ken Moore with R & K Pivots, his
also had bridges built so one of T-L dealer for his decision.
the pivots could cross the creek. “I looked at all the different
“My plan was to build the pond brands and talked to several
for a steady water supply that company representatives at the
could exceed the well capacity farm shows,” he relates. “But I
when necessary; but all of a ultimately decided on T-L because
sudden, I have all these friends I liked the dealer. R & K Pivots has
offering recreational ideas,” he been in business for almost 30
grins. “They’re all thinking about years, while the dealers for some
the fishing opportunities.” of the other brands have only
Still, Wade had more than been around since pivot irrigation
drought protection and fishing in started moving east.
mind when he started building the “I also liked the hydraulic drive,
pond and buying more pivots. He since some of the bottoms,
was also thinking of the increased where I pull the irrigation water
income potential. out of the river, tend to flood on
“It’s all about making the land occasion,” he adds. “I didn’t want
that I own more productive,” he to worry about having electric
says. “As crop land rent has gone motors under water.
up, it has become “Another thing
more economical “It’s all about making is I thought the
to put irrigation the land that I own hydraulic drive
on the land that I more productive.” would stand up
own and increase better on our
yields that way than to rent more farm than the electric motors,”
land. It’s simply a way to expand he continues. “We have ground
without acquiring more land or that’s a little rougher than you
labor.” would find in the Midwest or
Wade says the pivots also some other parts of the country.
provide a means for adding 32 So I hate having equipment
percent liquid fertilizer during that’s not built to run over a rock
the growing season and applying or two and handle some tough
fungicide when necessary. conditions,” he concludes. “I once
“In 2012, I made two applications had a planter that was built too
of nitrogen and one application light and we didn’t keep it long
of fungicide through the pivot,” for that reason. So far, T-L hasn’t
he explains. “I think the fungicide disappointed.”
application, in particular, was

T-L Irrigation Co. Introduces
Precision Mobile Drip Irrigation (PMDI)
With an eye toward helping
farmers deal with water shortages
and pumping restrictions, T-L
Irrigation Company has gone
back to the drawing board
and introduced a new version
of the company’s unique
PMDI™ (Precision Mobile Drip
Irrigation) system.
According to Dave Thom,
vice-president of sales at T-L
Irrigation, the PMDI technology
combines the benefits of T-L’s
hydrostatically powered center
pivot irrigation systems with
the efficiency of drip irrigation
for total water efficiency that
approaches 95 percent.
“Universally available for all new
or used pivot or linear irrigation
systems, PMDI features in-line
driplines spaced at 60-inch
intervals that are pulled through
the field by a center pivot or
lateral move irrigation system,”
says Thom, noting that lines can
also be spaced at 30- or 40-
inch intervals. “As the hoses are
pulled behind the system,
emitters, spaced every six inches,
deliver an even water pattern
across the full length of the pivot
or linear system.”
Although T-L patented and
introduced PMDI for the first time
approximately ten years ago, the
key to its reintroduction is a new
partnership with Netafim, Inc.,
a world leader in drip irrigation
products. The new, improved
version not only addresses the
current growing interest in water
conservation related to drought
and lowering water tables, but
provides better durability.
Because the driplines do not
put the water out in the air, but
rather directly onto the soil
surface, the evaporation and wind
drift associated with traditional
sprinklers is virtually eliminated.
“In effect, producers gain
the flexibility of a center pivot,
while utilizing drip irrigation
efficiency.” Thom continues. “Most
importantly, it provides a water
saving solution for customers
who are faced with water
restrictions or deficit irrigation.”
Although PMDI does require
some additional management,
user experience has shown this
factor to be far outweighed by
the benefits of improved watering
efficiency.
“Plus, producers have
experienced reduction in wheel
track problems since the PMDI drip
lines emit water behind the pivot
wheels, which then are running
on dry ground,” Thom concludes.
“The PMDI system works well,
IRRIGATION VIEW | 3
THERE ARE TWO MAIN
ADVANTAGES OF
PRECISION MOBILE DRIP
IRRIGATION:
Overall water efficiency
With the drip line design,
you eliminate evaporation
and wind drift associated
with traditional sprinklers
because wind will not
effect it as it applies the
water at a super-efficient
95%. You get all the
efficiency of surface drip
at the much–reduced cost
per acre price of center
pivots.
Dry wheel tracks
In many soils and cropping
practices, deep wheel
tracks on pivots and linears
are a problem. With PMDI™
the drip lines water behind
the wheels so the tires run
on dry ground.
too, for crops like tomatoes and
vegetables that are traditionally
watered at surface level to avoid
disease or crop damage. So we
think it’s past time for it to once
again be part of the T-L product
line-up.”
For more information
on Precision Mobile Drip
Irrigation (PMDI), call
800-330-4264, email T-L at
sales@tlirr.com or visit
www.tlirr.com/products/
precision_mobile_drip_
irrigation.
 RELIABLE IRRIGATION PERFORMANCE…

LIKE NO OTHER.

T-L IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ARE EASIER ON YOU. STOP COPPER THEFT.

Experience maximum uptime and eliminate
the hassles of electric drive machines with
the simplicity and reliability of T-L’s exclusive
hydraulic design. Safety, high maintenance costs,
and unexpected downtime will no longer be
major concerns.
Copper wire is being stolen from electrically powered
pivot systems at an alarming rate, sometimes on
multiple occasions. T-L’s hydrostatically powered
pivot systems can be designed with no wire to steal,
eliminating the problem entirely.

THE T-L DIFFERENCE | Contact T-L, your T-L dealer, or visit www.tlirr.com to learn more.

THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE.

www.tlirr.com
RECOVER YOUR LOST PRODUCTION WITH T-L.
Eliminate the “spoking” effect caused by the
start-stop operation of electrically-powered pivot
irrigation systems and get the benefits of even
water distribution only hydraulically driven T-L
T-L Center Electric
systems can provide.
Pivot Center Pivot

151 East Hwy 6 & AB Road · P.O. Box 1047 Phone: 1-800-330-4264 Phone: (402) 462-4128
Hastings, Nebraska 68902-1047 USA Fax: 1-800-330-4268 Fax: (402) 462-4617
TIF
ER IE
sales@tlirr.com · www.tlirr.com ISO
C

9001
U A LI T
Y
Q
 6 | IRRIGATION VIEW
Tim Morelli - Maupin, OR
“The T-L Has Allowed Me
More Quality Time With My Family.”
“This is the best and, judging from
this year’s crop, the most even
water distribution system I’ve
seen, and I’ve done hand-lines,
wheel-lines, and another center-
pivot,” Tim Morelli states.
Tim farms 1,000 acres of
irrigated alfalfa, wheat, and barley
for forage, plus dry land wheat
near Maupin, Oregon. The T-L unit
is in its first full season and, thanks
to having a corner system, applied
water to 171 acres of alfalfa. Even
though Morelli’s water supply is
limited, he harvested five tons of
dairy quality hay in three cuttings.
“This T-L has provided
tremendous savings for us.
Overall watering efficiency has
increased so much,” he comments.
“And, while I don’t have any
figures on this, I can tell by the
looks of the field that we don’t
have the dry streaks and wind
streaks like we did before. This the air. I just can’t say enough available. Even more important
may not be a scientific study, but about this low profile system and was the absence of continual
the farmer in me is saying this is the good job it’s doing.” starting and stopping with a T-L.
good.” Morelli remembers that his first After a lightening strike blew out
The T-L replaced six wheel- thought when he saw the T-L the oscillator board, the support
lines—and the labor they corner machine was, “This must Morelli got from the Company
demanded. These be some kind of was, he says, “just incredible. One
“This is the best
units had to be madman’s dream.” man from the Nebraska plant had
and, judging from
moved twice a “However,” he given me his cellphone number
this year’s crop,
day, morning and adds, “I’m impressed. and said to call any time. When I
the most even
night, every day of It folds out where got him at home he was watching
water distribution
the week. Morelli it’s supposed to a football game. Yet he was still
system I’ve seen.
also thinks his yield and then folds willing to take the time to walk me
potential is higher now since back when it’s supposed to with through what I needed to do.”
he can get water back on the the sprinklers sequencing and There’s another payoff from
harvested field so much sooner. shutting off. I can’t see any real the labor the T-L saves, although
He says the combination of drop wet spots, so it’s applying water Morelli doesn’t quite know how
hoses and sprinkler package low uniformly.” to put a dollar value on it. As
to the ground has pretty much The T-L system’s not requiring he stresses, “Any time you can
eliminated wind loss and lowered high voltage electricity was a buy yourself a little more time,
evaporation loss. major buying factor, according especially when you’re raising a
The T-L, he points out, “Puts the to Morelli.. Safety was another family, it’s important. The T-L has
water right down where we want consideration along with having allowed me more quality time
it. It doesn’t have to float through no electricity source readily with my family.”
 IRRIGATION VIEW | 7

Shafel / Progressive Technology

corn on their 900-acre operation.

Their specialty is potatoes and
vegetables grown with the aid
of five T-L towable center pivot
irrigation units. The irony is
that when corn prices are high,
farmers to the south switch from
vegetables to corn — which
provides higher overall profits
for them due to their longer
growing season and higher yields
— shifting even more of the
vegetable market to the Shafels
and neighboring Bryant area
farms.
“This year, we have 230 acres of
potatoes, along with 100 acres of
peas, 140 acres of sweet corn and
140 acres of snap beans, or green
beans,” says Michael, noting that Jim, Kathleen, and Michael Shafel - Bryant, WI
three fourths of the potatoes
Kathleen’s son, Markus, playing a the field rotation. Potatoes are on whole pivot to the adjacent field.
are marketed as seed potatoes
vital role in the day-to-day farm a three-year rotation, so for two “Of course, the hydraulic drive
to other growers. “The rest of
operations. The farm’s origins out of every three years, that field and the fact that you don’t have to
the farm was divided between
extend back to the early 1900s will be in vegetables, wheat, corn deal with high-voltage electricity
170 acres of wheat, 40 acres of
with Jim’s father. Although Jim’s or alfalfa. Another nice thing about was a big selling point, too,” Jim
field corn, 40 acres of alfalfa and
family had a dairy while he was vegetables is we can plant winter continues. “But we really bought
maybe 12 acres of soybeans.”
growing up, they “left the cows wheat right behind a vegetable them for their towability.”
Shafel explains that one of the
behind,” as Jim relates, when they crop,” he continues. “However, Kathleen points out that the
benefits of the sweet corn, beans
moved five miles to their current there have been some dry falls availability of irrigation on every
and peas is that the canning
location in 1970. when we have had to irrigate right field has also provided a boost to
company contracts the crop and
Today, the after the crop their vegetable operation.
the buyer does all the harvesting. “The thing we like most
family produces got planted.” “Since the crop is grown on
Sunnydale Farms is simply paid about the T-L towable
an average of The T-L towable a contract and the canning
for managing the crop for the units is they are a lot
seven to eight pivots have done company covers all the expenses,
highest possible yields. easier to move.”
million pounds of more than just they want to know that they’re
“It’s kind of a hit-and-miss
potatoes annually and markets make it easier to irrigate potatoes, going to get a crop, even in a
situation with the canning
six different seed potato varieties though. They’ve also done a lot to drought year,” she says. “So they
companies,” says Michael’s wife,
that include both red and white open up the Shafels’ vegetable prefer their crops to be under
Kathleen, who is also heavily
types and varieties bred for table market, as Michael explains. irrigation and will actually pass
involved in the family operation.
consumption and potato chip “There were times in the past, you by if you don’t have irrigation.
“They prefer to find fields closer
production. when we were still using some “If you think about it long term,
to the factory to reduce their
The downside is that potatoes hard hoses, that it was all we could the more progressive you get with
transportation costs. So if they
require a lot of water and, often, do to keep up with irrigation on tools like the T-L towable pivots,
get enough land in the vicinity,
a lot of labor, which prompted the potatoes,” he relates. “There the more productive you become,
they don’t come up this far. But
Jim to purchase the first T-L pivot simply wasn’t enough time left which helps you get even more
when they do, it’s a win-win for all
more than 25 years ago. Today, to take care of a canning crop, progressive,” Kathleen concludes.
of us.”
the family has five stationary because potatoes come first!” “So progressive technology tends
“It just depends on the price of
electric center pivot units, five T-L “The thing we like most about to build on itself.”
field corn,” adds Jim Shafel. “And
towable pivots, one stationary T-L the T-L towable units is they take
a lot of times, we don’t know
unit, one electric towable pivot less time to move and they are
whether we’ll have a contract
and two portable “hose pull” units. a lot easier to move,” adds Jim,
until spring.”
“Our T-L towables cover 40 acres noting that the units are moved
One thing is certain, though …
each and are moved back and at least once a week and as often
the focus will continue to center
forth to cover 80 acres,” Michael as twice a week. “Each unit has
around certified seed potato
explains. “Right now, all of them its own power unit that moves
production for the Shafel family.
are on potatoes, but we’ll have with it, as well as built-in hydraulic
In fact, the operation is now in its View parts of this interview at
vegetables, alfalfa or wheat under jacks; so all we have to do is lift
fifth generation with Michael and tlirr.com/difference/testimonials
them at times, too, depending on and swing the wheels and pull the
 8 | IRRIGATION VIEW
Mark Utecht - Hastings, NE
Times … And Needs … Have Changed
A T-L corner pivot system has redefined the role of corners on one Nebraska farm.
Back when Mark Utecht and his
dad raised hogs near Hastings,
Nebraska, the wheat grown in
the corners of fields irrigated
with T-L center pivot units went
to good use. Not only was it an
extra dryland crop for the cash
grain market, but the straw
was actually needed for
bedding in the hog barns. A lot
of things have changed since
then, though.
Now that the hogs are gone
and the barns are empty, there’s
no longer a need for straw. Plus,
the center pivot, which was
adjacent to the hog operation,
was already close to 40 years
old. So, in an effort to “kill two
birds with one stone,” Utecht
installed a new T-L corner pivot
system this past spring that
covers the entire field. The irony
is that a portion of the old pivot
is still going after 39 years.
“Dad installed the very first
T-L center pivot in 1973; but
that part of the farm went to a
cousin who has since replaced it
with a new T-L,” Utecht explains.
“However, the one I just replaced
was a pivot that Dad bought and
installed in 1975.”
While the original unit utilized
chain drives on each tower,
Utecht had since replaced all
but one of those with hydraulic
motors on the wheels, bringing
it closer to today’s standards.
Still, the unit was too good to
totally retire as salvage.
“I sold eight of the towers and
spans to a neighbor,” he explains.
“He hasn’t done anything with
four of them yet, but he has
already used the other four
to build a pivot that covers a
corner that he can’t reach with
the main pivot.”
In the meantime, Utecht enjoys
the benefit of being able to
irrigate approximately 152 acres
in the field with the newest unit …
particularly since approximately
two-thirds of his 600 acres
consists of corn-on-corn.
“I’ve always felt like corn
gives me the best return on
investment,” he continues. “And
I still do things the traditional
way by using a disc/chisel in
the fall and following it with
a field cultivator in the spring
before I plant.”
 IRRIGATION VIEW | 9

Not surprisingly, he feels the
same about T-L center pivot
units. They’re simple and reliable.
“I’ve priced other brands,
but I’ve always stuck with T-L,
partly because of the hydraulic
drive, but mainly because of the
dealer and the service,” he says.
“I’m more comfortable around
hydraulics and think they’re a lot
simpler than electric drives. Plus,
every so often, I hear another
horror story about the service,
or lack of it, that somebody got
from another brand.”
After taking over the family
farm and beginning to farm full-
time in the mid-’90s, Utecht says
he actually bought his first T-L
unit on his own in 2005. That
was placed on a quarter-section
farm that he purchased in an
effort to expand the operation.
Otherwise, all his land lies south
of Hastings within a few miles of
the home farm.
“At this point, everything is
under irrigation with all but 70
acres being under pivots,” he
relates. “The only field that is still
being flood irrigated has a good
slope to it, so it’s easy to irrigate.
But it still takes a lot of work that
I don’t have with the pivots,” he
adds, joking that his time isn’t
worth much.
The only other regret that
Utecht has is that the newest
corner pivot system is the only
one that makes a full circle.
The rest of them automatically
reverse due to a farmstead
or other obstacle blocking
the path.
“I wish they all went
in a full circle,” he
insists. “But at least
with this newest T-L,
I’m getting more of the field
watered than we ever did in the
past.”
In the meantime, most any
farmer in Nebraska will tell
you that corn returns more per
acre than wheat. And as
livestock disappears from more
and more row-crop operations,
there certainly isn’t as much
need for straw.

GPS NAVIGATION
CORNER SYSTEMS

T-L’S GPS NAVIGATION CORNER SYSTEM TIF

ER IE
ISO

D
9001
LIKE NO OTHER. U A LI T

Y
Q
T-L’s GPS NAVIGATION CORNER SYSTEM
is the ultimate in design simplicity.
• RTK Accuracy (sub-inch)
Featuring Real Time Kinematic (RTK) accuracy and
• Base Station included, no subscription
Wheel Angle Sensor (WAS) for true tracking, the required
package includes the base station, eliminating the
• WAS (Wheel Angle Sensor) for True
need for a subscription. The system tracks multiple Tracking
constellations reducing the signal loss caused by tree • Track on Track accuracy, pass after
lines and other obstacles and there is no electronic pass
interference from power lines. Operators can easily • Fast Start up Time
change the path of the system through a simple Inside T-L Irrigation’s T-L’s exterior control box • “Teach” function to easily change the
“teach” function. control box/panel path
• No electronic interference with power
Users get “track on track” accuracy pass after pass, lines
fast start up time, and real-time diagnostics so they
• Tracks multiple constellations, reduces
can watch it work. Safety is assured through low signal loss behind tree lines
voltage, DC(24VDC), and there is no buried wire. • Real Time diagnostics, watch it work
Combined with T-L’s hydrostatic design, low • No Buried Wire required
maintenance, reliability and unmatchd continuous • Continuous movement of all drive units
movement, T-L’S GPS NAVIGATION CORNER Inside the competitor’s Competitor’s exterior • Safe & Simple low voltage DC (24VDC)
control box/panel control box
SYSTEM represents the optimum in pivot Corner • 2 Patents Pending
System management.
 10 | IRRIGATION VIEW
First Choice in Pivots
T-Ls have quickly become the pivot of choice on this
diversified farm in North West of Argentina.
Farmers have enough to worry
about in Argentina’s Catamarca
Province without having to
worry about adequate rainfall.
After all, 80 percent of the
area is covered by mountains;
plus, the 39,615-square-mile
province, which borders Chile on
the west side of the country, is
noted for its extreme weather.
Even within the small confines
of the Catamarca Province,
weather can range from tropical
in the east to desert-like in the
west. Meanwhile, temperatures
vary widely, depending upon
altitude, with the low-lying areas
noted for extreme summer heat
that averages from 91 to 95
degrees F during the day, and
peaks as high as 113 degrees F.
To make matters worse,
almost all the scarce summer
precipitation falls as intense,
sporadic thunderstorms.
It’s little wonder that agriculture
represents only five percent of
the province’s economic output.
And most of that comes from
wood, vineyards, olives, citrus
and cotton. Still, with the help of
T-L Irrigation, Hernan Manrique
SA, Tecnocampo SA, and
several center pivot units, the
El Yunque farm, located in the
provincial subdivision of Santa
Rosa Department, has been
producing a diversified mix of
corn, soybeans, wheat, potatoes,
carrots and sweet potatoes for
more than a decade.
According to Emilse Alesso,
manager of Agrocar Norte S.A.,
an export company that owns El
Yunque, the company installed
the first center pivot units in
Catamarca Province in 2003.
“That was actually the first
experience with center pivot
irrigation for any of us,” says
Alesso, noting that the company
also has farms in the adjacent
Cordoba Province, which is
Argentina’s fifth largest province.
“Today, we have a total of 1,350
hectares (3,336 acres) under
irrigation, with 1,150 hectares
(2,842 acres) under pivots and
200 hectares (494 acres) under
surface irrigation. The main crop
under irrigation is corn.”
While one might expect the
climate to be Alesso’s biggest
challenge, he insists that his
greatest obstacle is, instead,
the local regulation of the
U. S. dollar value — particularly
since Agrocar Norte S.A. works
with Monsanto on several
projects — and international
commodity prices.
Fortunately, the T-L center
pivots that dot the farm haven’t
been near the challenge as
international finance.
“We have 15 pivots in total,”
Alesso explains. “Of those, 11 are
T-L units. On average, they’re
used to put on about 350
millimeters (13.8 inches) of water
per year.”
In the meantime, Alesso says
water is pumped from wells
that deliver from 200 to 250
cubic meters (52,800 to 66,000
gallons) of water per minute.
However, each pivot is managed
differently, depending upon the
crop and the soil. In general,
most of the fields are sandy,
Emilse Alesso
Catamarca Province, Argentina
which means they don’t hold a
lot of moisture at any one time.
Hence, the need for frequent
irrigation. That’s also the reason
fertilizer is applied at intervals
and in both liquid and granular
form. While some is applied
with the planter, the rest is
“spoon fed” post-emergence
with a self-propelled sprayer.
Due to the fact that they are
all less than 12 years old, Alesso
says he is fortunate in that he
hasn’t had any major problems
with any of the pivot units.
However, he notes, “If any
problems appear with the
electric pivots, it is hard for the
operator or farm employees to
fix it. You need a specialist near
to solve electric pivot problems.
“We tend to do the periodical
service with our own farm
personnel,” he continues. “Then,
once per year, we call the
technicians for an official service.
That’s why the reliability of the
T-L machines, the low amount
of maintenance they need and
the good service that we receive
from the T-L dealer are among
my favorite features,” he adds.
“Other things I like about the
T-L pivots are the quality of
materials and the robust design.
“We don’t have any plans right
now for replacing the electric
pivots,” he concludes. “But we
are expanding and we plan to
add more pivots. So I think the
best plan would be to buy more
T-Ls.”

T-L Irrigation Celebrates 60 Years Of Business
“Design it right; then make it right.”
Since 1955, when LeRoy Thom
founded T-L Irrigation Company
in Hastings, Nebraska, that has
been the philosophy behind
every T-L center pivot and
linear irrigation unit. Today,
that philosophy is represented
by more than 250 dealers
worldwide and appreciated by
the thousands of customers
who are using T-L center pivot
systems to irrigate crops in
44 states and in more than
70 countries.
Celebrating 60 years in
business in 2015, T-L has always
maintained the “We’re farmers”
concept, which means the
company’s marketing decisions
are always based on how a
farmer would view and use the
product to make money. That’s
also the main reason that T-L
is the only irrigation system
manufacturer to use hydrostatic
drive instead of electric motors.
Thom reasoned that nearly all
farmers understand hydraulics
and can make most necessary
repairs themselves. There’s little
need to call for an expensive
serviceman or have a system
down while waiting on repair.
Built to keep running with a
minimum of maintenance also
ensures T-L’s popularity in
third world countries, where
electricians are in short supply
and many operators can neither
read nor write.
Of course, there’s also the
safety factor of not having
to deal with the 480 volts of
electricity that power electric
systems or the risk of damage
caused by lightning strikes.
Ironically … and unfortunately
… electrically driven pivots are
also susceptible to an issue that
LeRoy Thom couldn’t even have
imagined 60 years ago. That is
copper theft by thieves looking
to make a few dollars from the
sale of a quarter mile or more of
copper wire.
Because T-L pivots are driven
by hydraulic motors, they also
operate continuously without
the stops and starts of electric
systems. That provides two
distinct advantages. First, there’s
obviously less wear and tear on
the system … not to mention
there are no relay switches or
circuits that can fail. Second, the
water is applied more uniformly
to crops without having any
“spoking” effect, since the
system always moves smoothly
through the field.
Leroy Thom had more than
easy maintenance in mind,
though, when he coined the
phrase, “We’re farmers.” He
meant it literally.
“I don’t think there’s a one of
our 250 employees who doesn’t
have some farm connection,
whether engineer, salesman,
in the plant or management.
This makes a big difference,”
he recently stated. “Many of
them are even second generation
T-L employees.”
T-L has tested its machines,
as a farmer would, by putting
thousands of hours on units
in Arizona, where they can
operate year-round, simulating
40 to 50 years of use in the
field. In addition, the company
continually tests new ideas and
products on farms near the
factory — all to ensure that a
unit or component will provide
the dependability that T-L
customers have come to expect.
Perhaps that is why T-L Irrigation
leads the irrigation industry in
providing warranties that are two
to three times longer than any
other center pivot manufacturer.
IRRIGATION VIEW | 11
Knowing that every farm is
different, T-L also goes above
and beyond on the choice of
options and finance packages
it offers. It starts with a choice
of either planetary or worm
gear drive systems. Plus, the
company offers aluminum and
Poly-Coated pipe options, in
addition to galvanized steel.
Finally, T-L can provide financing
to buyers through T-L Credit
Co., which offers more flexibility
for precisely fitting the buying
needs of its customers.
Reflecting back on 60 years,
Thom observes, “It’s really been
fun to help in the development
of center pivot irrigation. When
I first started selling hand-move
systems, we talked about 80- to
100-bushel per acre corn. Now
we talk about 200- to 250-bushel
… even 300-bushel yields. Today
there’s nothing that can take
the place of a center pivot
irrigation system.”

12 | IRRIGATION VIEW
IRRIGATION
Our customers say it best.
Center pivot irrigation has
continued to pay off since Steve
Rogers, who farms near Glendale,
Kentucky, was featured in the
Irrigation View in 2013. While he
hasn’t had the chance to add any
more T-L units, Rogers certainly
saw the value in having irrigation
available this past season.
Due to dry weather at critical
times this past summer, he said
he used the pivots a number
of times to add supplemental
water. The result? While dryland
fields yielded around 100 to 120
bushels per acre, the three fields
under pivots yielded closer
to 220 bushels on average,
for a yield improvement of
approximately 100 bushels.
“The difference was pretty
significant,” he admits.
“Unfortunately, I’m currently
at the limit on the amount of
ground I can irrigate; but I’m
still investigating ways I can
add at least one more T-L pivot.
It just depends on access and
water availability.”
Farther east, near Rowland,
North Carolina, Bo Stone … who
was featured two years ago in
the T-L Irrigation View … is not
only an advocate for T-L center
pivot units, but for agriculture
in general. If you recall, Stone
had previously been selected
EXISTING T-L OWNERS
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as the winner of the 2010 North
Carolina Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt
R VIEW Local Dealer:
R&K Pivots
Expo Southeastern Farmer of
Russellville, KY
the Year award.
However, since his appearance
in the Irrigation View article,
Stone was also selected by
the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers
Alliance as one of the winners of
its Faces of Farming & Ranching
program for 2013. USFRA’s
goal through the contest is to
promote agriculture by finding
› tlirr.com/testimonial/steve-rogers
exemplary farming models who
are both proud of farming and
eager to promote the story of
the industry to the public.
As one of the Faces of Farming Local Dealer:
Circle S Irrigation
& Ranching, Stone spent part
Hartsville, SC
of this past year sharing his
story and experiences on a
national stage.
“I recognize that farmers in
general need to do a better job
relaying our message and stories
to the consumers of our products
and others who will have a part
in shaping our futures,” says
Stone. “My objective was to › tlirr.com/testimonial/bo-stone
reach an audience that doesn’t
realize farmers have the same
goals as them — to provide a
safe, reliable and affordable
source of food while protecting
our natural resources.”
Naturally, T-L continues to play
a vital role in those goals.
eNEWS