BMCC’s New Building Helps Students, Ag Industry

Blue Mountain Community College recently cut the ribbon opening a new precision irrigated agriculture building on the OSU Extension campus in Hermiston.

Agriculture Department Chair Preston Winn said the new building will help students gain the skills necessary to run, fix and manage irrigation equipment on a farm.

“Then be able to utilize that equipment to enable them to use water, a very precious resource, in the best way possible to raise irrigated crops not just here, but actually give them the experience and knowledge to be able to do that anywhere in the world.”

The new facility will have new classrooms, laboratory space, meeting areas and much more.

Winn said agriculture is changing rapidly and Blue Mountain along with Oregon State University want to offer ways for students to keep up with those changes.

“These tools that are emerging in precision ag, it will mean that agriculturalists will have technicians and others available to assist them in being better producers and better managers of that water resource.”

Winn said farmers can be involved either by taking classes, hosting field days and many other ways.