PGG’s Enterprise store, which specializes in irrigation and pump supplies for farmers and ranchers, will open Feb. 23.

PPG, short for Pendleton Grain Growers, has been selling and servicing irrigation equipment in Wallowa County for several years, and the new Enterprise location will allow the company to provide better service, said Island City manager Robb Rea, who also is in charge of the new store.

“It became an issue with increasing business,” Rea said. “We were doing more and more in Wallowa County and were having a salesperson drive out there every day. Over the past five years our business has increased and increased in Wallowa County and it became apparent we needed local representation.”

The Depot Street store in Enterprise will employ three people. The Island City store, which also sells feed, has 23 employees.

Wallowa County irrigators have been switching from flood to sprinkler irrigation, so the Enterprise store makes good business sense, Rea said.

“There are a lot more people going from flood to sprinkler irrigation,” Rea said. “You can utilize the water a lot more efficiently.”

Having the local store will also help increase response when farmers and ranchers face problems with their equipment. “This way with someone on staff they should be able to respond that day,” Rea says of urgent service calls.

The local store will improve response to equipment repairs during growing season when irrigators need to get water their fields.

PGG is currently taking reservations for its Feb. 19 Yearly Pivot Service School, where sprinkler system owners are shown how the electrical controls work as well as safety training.

The phone number of the new Enterprise store is 426-3576.