I welcome the opportunity to meet with the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities and wish you every success with your annual meeting today. Value of Agriculture I would like to take the next few moments to highlight the value of the agriculture industry, as well as the opportunities and challenges. Agriculture is PEI's number one private sector employer, employing one in four Islanders. The four leading commodities based on dollar generation are potatoes, dairy, beef and pork while niche markets include blueberries, cranberries and honey. The family farm is an integral part of the social fabric of every Island community.
Farms create jobs and inject money into the local economy.
Importance of Farms Farm families contribute to the social well-being of the community by participating in school, church and other social activities. Recognizing the importance of sustainable land practices, farmers have participated in the Environmental Farm Plan process and have continued to implement new and innovative land management techniques to ensure sustainability for future generations. It was lent to us by our children. It has taken more than 200 years for the issues facing the Island agriculture community to evolve. It would be naive to think that we can resolve challenges facing urban-rural communities in the 20 minutes we have on the agenda today.