Agriculture and Forestry Minister Eric Hammill today released a management review of the Prince Edward Island Grain Elevators Corporation. The review was carried out for the department by the consulting firm Smith Green and Associates. Mr. Hammill is minister responsible for the Corporation.
"The department regularly conducts reviews of its programs to determine if they are still meeting the needs for which they were established," said Mr. Hammill. "It has been some time since the mandate, present role and future direction of the Grain Elevators Corporation was reviewed, and in view of the tremendous changes which have taken place throughout the agriculture industry, we want to ensure the Corporation is best meeting the needs of its clients."
Mr. Hammill said that, since the Grain Elevators Corporation was established in 1977, it has been a major benefit to the grain, oilseeds and livestock industries. "The Elevators have played a key role in providing price security and marketing services for Island grain and oilseeds drying, cleaning, storing and marketing Island grain and oilseeds," he said. "It has also provided valuable services in drying, cleaning and storing Island grain and roasting and extrusion services for soybean products." The three elevators also provide a number of other custom services to the industry.
The Board of Directors has been discussing the findings and recommendations of the review over the past several months. The Board will be presenting a business plan outlining its future directions to the minister by the end of March.
"The review has been very helpful to the Board in helping to focus on the mandate, operations and relevance of the Corporation to the agriculture industry," said Allan Ling, Board Chairman. "The Corporation needs to position itself to best meet the future needs of grain, oilseed and livestock producers."
Prince Edward Island produces more than 150,000 acres of grains and oilseeds each year, accounting for the largest use of agricultural land in the province. The province is also practically self-sufficient in feed grain production.
"Because the local production of grain and oilseeds play a vital role in meeting the needs of the livestock producers and in crop rotations for potato producers, its continued growth and development is critical to the future of the entire agriculture and food industry in this province," said Mr. Hammill. "I want to work closely with the Board of the Corporation to strengthen the important role it plays in the industry."
Copies of the review will be available from Island Information Service.