For Immediate Release March 27, 2001

                    Valmont Comments on First Quarter Results

         Omaha, NE - Valmont Industries,  Inc. (NASDAQ-NM:  VALM), a diversified
manufacturer of poles,  structures and coating services for infrastructure,  and
mechanized irrigation equipment for agriculture,  today commented on results for
the first  quarter  ending March 31, 2001. On February 13, the Company said that
it was cautious  about its first quarter  outlook and expected  slightly  higher
sales and  somewhat  lower net earnings  than 2000.  The Company  still  expects
slightly higher sales and expects that operating  income levels should be around
20% below last year with diluted  earnings per share of  approximately  20 cents
compared with 32 cents last year. The reduction in earnings relates primarily to
North American irrigation operations. The Company's international irrigation and
infrastructure performance remains strong.

     "As  we  indicated,   our  North  American  irrigation  business  was  soft
throughout  the  first  quarter.  Uncertainty  about  government  farm  programs
combined  with   expectations   for  higher   fertilizer  and  fuel  costs  have
significantly  slowed U.S.  farmers  purchases of  irrigation  equipment,"  said
Mogens C. Bay, Valmont's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "On February 22,
we announced  that we have taken steps to structure the  irrigation  business to
better  match  expenses  with the  reduced  sales  volumes.  The  costs of these
measures  will  be  substantially   absorbed  in  the  first  quarter.   In  the
infrastructure  businesses,  sales will be up despite  severe winter weather and
profitability  will be slightly lower mainly as a result of higher energy costs,
especially natural gas. While there is weakness in the North American irrigation
business,  our  infrastructure  businesses  remain  strong  and at this time our
backlogs are at historically high levels," added Bay.

         The company will report first quarter 2001 earnings on April 18, 2001.

         Valmont  is a global  leader  in  designing  and  manufacturing  poles,
towers,  and structures for lighting,  communication and utility markets,  and a
provider of protective coating services for  infrastructure.  Valmont also leads
the  world  in  mechanized   irrigation  and  water  management   equipment  for
agriculture,  enhancing food production while conserving and protecting  natural
water  resources.  In addition,  Valmont  produces a wide variety of  fabricated
products for commercial and industrial applications.

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         This  release  contains  forward-looking   statements,   which  reflect
management's   current  views  and  estimates  of  future  economic  and  market
circumstances,  industry conditions,  company performance and financial results.
The statements are based on many  assumptions  and factors  including  operating
efficiencies,  availability and price of raw materials,  availability and market
acceptance  of  new  products,   product  pricing,  domestic  and  international
competitive   environment,   actions  and  policy   changes  of   domestic   and
international  governments  and  other  risks  described  from  time  to time in
Valmont's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any changes in such
assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results.

                                       END