Ministerial Mandate Letter - Agriculture

Dear Premier,

Please accept this letter as the Department of Agriculture’s response to your mandate letter, dated March 3, 2026.

The Department of Agriculture is dedicated to ensuring the growth, resilience and sustainability of the province’s agricultural industry. Through collaboration with farmers, industry groups, the federal government and other partners, the Department of Agriculture seeks to cultivate a vibrant agricultural community that can adapt to shifting market trends, global trade uncertainty, changing demographics, and impacts of climate change.

In preparing this letter, the Department has placed emphasis on priorities set out in the Speech from the Throne and identifying evidence‑based, practical actions to support the agriculture industry in PEI.

Specific Actions for the Next 12–18 Months

• Support farms to increase energy efficiency, generate renewable energy, and contribute to grid resilience through targeted programming, applied research, and on‑farm energy assessments.
• Explore options and develop recommendations for establishing a farmland trust to protect agricultural land.
• Reduce barriers for the next generation of farmers through programs such as Future Farmer 2.0 and succession‑planning tools.
• Work with Finance and Affordability on property‑tax changes to keep agricultural land in production, including a Next Generation Tax Holiday.
• Partner with community pasture organizations to improve pasture capacity, environmental outcomes, and new‑entrant access.
• Champion growth in the beef sector, including expanding Maritime Livestock Price Insurance and completing a beef herd inventory.
• Support farmer mental health through Farmers Talk and review findings of the Agricultural Workers’ Mental Well‑being Survey.
• Implement a cloud‑based Agricultural Insurance Corporation platform to streamline administration and client access.

The Department will advance this work with a clear focus on accountability and value for money, and will monitor and report on progress to ensure these initiatives deliver tangible benefits for the agricultural sector and Islanders.

Sincerely,

Hon. Bloyce Thompson