Grains are an up and coming crop in P.E.I.’s agriculture sector and the P.E.I. Grain Elevator Corporation is planning an expansion to keep up.
The corporation, based in Kensington, wants to purchase almost nine acres of agricultural land in order to increase its holding capacity. The land in question is an agricultural field adjacent to the corporation’s current elevator and storage property.
Neil Campbell, manager of the corporation, said the current facility can store about 14,000 tonnes of grains and soybeans, and the plan is to build space for an additional 10,000 tonnes.
Campbell said there are few factors playing into the decision to expand, including an increase in grain and soybean yields from Island farmers.
“Farmers are growing more product for export, so we need the space,” he said.
Another important factor is transporting the product to market. In the past, much of the harvest has had to be trucked off Island, but the corporation has been pursuing marine shipping through the Summerside Marine Terminal. However, luring a ship here means ensuring it will leave full; to do that the corporation needs enough storage space to stockpile product until it has enough to fill a ship.
“If we don’t have the storage, we can’t really do that. You have to compile enough to fill a boat. They don’t want to bring a boat down here and only half fill it,” said Campbell.
As part of the construction process, the corporation has filed an environmental impact assessment with the provincial government.
A public meeting has been scheduled to allow residents the opportunity to provide feedback on various aspects of the project. It is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kensington Legion, at 30 Garden Drive.
A general overview of the project will be provided starting at 7:15 p.m.
Written comment can also be made until May.
More information about the environmental impact assessment and the project itself is available online at Department of Communities Land and Environment web portal.
@JournalPMacLean
