DuPont Pioneer announced on Wednesday plans to increase capacity at its Hermiston IMPACT™ research location.
The expansion, which is already under way and is expected to be completed in August of this year, will add seven new jobs over the next two years and more than 5,000 square feet of office space and 51,000 square feet of drying, storage and seed conditioning space.
“This expansion is an excellent opportunity for DuPont Pioneer to continue to meet customers’ needs as well as help grow the Hermiston economy,” said Shane Clayson, research manager for DuPont Pioneer. “This area not only meets our needs in regards to the growing environment, but the community support has been phenomenal as well.”
Upon completion, the $4 million expansion will result in the creation of an estimated seven new jobs over the next two years and includes additional office space, seed storage and conditioning equipment. The latest expansion announcement comes less than two months after Pioneer announced its plans for a $28 million expansion of its Hermiston parent seed facility, creating 18 new full-time jobs.
“This DuPont Pioneer expansion – the fourth at this site in four years – indicates our continued and long-term dedication to the agricultural industry in this area,” said Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann. “The city of Hermiston is particularly excited about this expansion at the DuPont Pioneer research facility because the jobs it will create are truly high-tech agriculture jobs.”
Pioneer first established a research presence in the Hermiston area in 2010. This location supports the business’s IMPACT™ (Intensively Managed Product Advancement Characterization Testing) program by growing seed for pre-commercial testing throughout North America.
DuPont Pioneer is a developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries.
