Potato growers form sustainable farm group

Twelve farm families in central P.E.I. are working together to build a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly agriculture industry.

Collectively, the group farms about 8,100 hectares of potatoes.

Gordie McKenna of Newton is one of the farmers from the East Prince Agri-Environment Association.

McKenna said the group is focusing on a number of environmental measures, including preventing soil erosion and minimizing fertilizer use.

McKenna said these measure will help improve the health of both the environment and their family farms.

"The family farm on P.E.I. is still alive," he said.

"We have big concerts in the summer and yes there are golf courses, they're beautiful and that's all great, but at the end of the day, when farming is number one, we have to protect it."

McKenna said as group, it will be easier to network with researchers about different ways to improve the soil.

The new group is made of mainly young farmers, most of whom run farms that have been in the family for two or three generations.