Winnipeg, Manitoba
April 9, 2002

Agricore United today announced the details of its new member structure.

The system will be based on a network of over 100 Member Advisory Groups (MAGs) representing "business areas." The groups will provide a forum for grassroots input to the company and elect delegates to the Annual Members' Meeting. Delegates will continue to elect 12 (4 annually, for 3 year terms) of the company's 15 corporate directors.

The new structure is based on the recommendations of the Member Advisory Group Review Committee, which was given a mandate to review and recommend the member system of Agricore United. Committee Chair Maurice Lemay says the report reflects the consensus of views expressed at a series of consultation meetings with Agricore United members.

"We have listened to the advice of our members and created a unique member model for farmer involvement in the company," says Lemay, an Agricore United director from Tangent, Alberta. "It's a model that sets us apart from our competitors." 

Highlights of the new structure include:

• Approximately 105 Member Advisory Groups (MAGs) established around "business areas" of one or more Agricore United facility.
• A minimum of two farmer-directors elected from each of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta; and one from the Peace River area. Five farmer-director positions will be elected without regard to pre-determined provincial residency.
• An estimated 180 delegates elected to the 2002 Annual Members' Meeting in December in Winnipeg.
• Delegates elected annually, with repeat attendance encouraged for continuity and education.

Members will initially be attached to a MAG in August 2002, but will have the option of affiliating with a MAG of their choice. This year, member meetings will be held August through November 2002, depending on harvest operations. 

Lemay describes the new system as "streamlined and cost-effective", consistent with the company's goal of capturing synergies from the merger.

Other members of the review committee are Agricore United directors Mel McNaugton of Rumsey, Alberta; Terry Youzwa of Nipawin, Saskatchewan, and Rob Pettinger of Elgin, Manitoba. Eight delegate representatives (four from each former company) served as advisors to the committee.

Agricore United is one of Canada's leading agri-businesses. The prairie-based company is diversified into sales of crop inputs and services, grain merchandising, livestock production services and farm business communications. Agricore United's shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "UGG".