Fourteen Western Canadian agri-retailers announced on Sept. 15, 2017 the formation and launch of AgLink Canada, a strategic and commercial alliance with AgLink Australia.

Your business is doing great work in your community and throughout the industry - CAAR wants to help share your story!

Do you know a retailer who could benefit from a membership with CAAR?

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced a one-year commitment of up to $567,786 at Montague Consolidated School in Montague, PEI on June 9.

It’s that time of year once again – CAAR members are in the process of receiving their membership renewal information. CAAR is encouraging all members to renew their CAAR membership for the 2017-2018 year!

CAAR attended the annual Fertilizer Canada Parliamentary Forum in Ottawa, April 10-12, in support of fertilizer awareness. Fertilizer Canada received a highly positive response to meeting requests, with upwards of 50 meetings confirmed with parliamentarians on April 11.

CAAR and Fertilizer Canada have been working intensively with two working groups under the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B620 Technical Committee, seeking resolution to changes in the 2014 B620 and B622 standards for construction of new anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks, and increased frequency of pressure testing and visual inspection for nurse tanks.

CAAR participated in the second Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) Steering Committee meeting in Winnipeg, MB on January 24, 2017. This steering committee was established in late 2015 by the Canada Grains Council to develop a national policy across all commodity value chains to make recommendations on the use of various pesticides.

CAAR has been actively working with retailer members and Fertilizer Canada seeking a resolution to the concerns brought forward to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Transport Canada regarding changes published in the 2014 version of the B620 and B622 standards.

Transport Canada is reviewing the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations under Part 6: Training, seeking to modernize and standardize TDG training with the goal of strengthening training requirements and enhancing the safe transport of dangerous goods.

An alternate interpretation of Clause 4.7 (3) in the TDG regulations may lead Nurse Tank owners to be challenged by their inspector to demonstrate that a reduced size UN 1005 placard is required.

CAAR was proud to speak on behalf of the agri-retailer industry at the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B620/B622 Standard Technical Committee meeting that took place January 17-18, 2017 in Edmonton.

Agriculture in the Classroom is in need of volunteers for the 2017 Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM) Program.

CAAR participated in the PMRA/Health Canada technical briefing webinar on Dec. 13, joining dozens of participants seeking more information on the proposed re-evaluation decision to phase out the insecticide imidacloprid over a three year period.

CAAR will join other industry stakeholders in the ongoing consultation with Transport Canada regarding potential amendments to Part 6: Training, under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Pamela Ganske, marketing director at CAAR member company Parkland Fertilizers, talks about the importance of agvocacy in today's industry.

On Dec. 12, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced the five 2017 4R Advocate winners. These five winners represent farmer and retailer partnerships that are leading the way in implementing 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices on the farm.

Your focus is on your business, where it should be. Our focus is protecting your business, and building tools to help.

Decisive Farming gets involved with a local school to show students that ag can be innovative.

Influx of female candidates is a welcome change in evolving agri-retail industry.

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, SeCan has launched a new initiative that aims to tackle the challenge of earning the public’s trust in Canada’s farming practices.

Last week, CAAR had the opportunity to present on behalf of the anhydrous ammonia industry to members of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B620 committee, regarding several concerns with amendments included in the 2014 versions of both the B620 and B622 standards that were identified by CAAR in January 2016.

A teacher in Winnipeg, MB is using an indoor garden to teach his students about agriculture... and beyond.

The Ag Women’s Network (AWN) is proud to unveil their new brand identity and organizational structure to reflect the network’s evolution.

Ag More Than Ever has shared a new video that encourages everyone in the agriculture community to tell their story about how Canadian food is made.

The Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA) has awarded Mairlyn Smith with the 2016 Canola Award of Excellence – the first professional home economist to be recognized for her contributions to the canola industry.

Robert Whitelaw, longtime CAAR member and advocate of the agri-retail industry, was recognized for his contributions to The Canadian Red Cross Strength and Spirit Campaign at a celebratory powwow in Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.

Government & Industry

We continually research the issues that may affect you, and encourage you to advise the CAAR office of any issues we should be addressing. Do you have an issue that you want CAAR to respond to? Is there something we should be focusing on with the government? Share your thoughts with us at 204-989-9300.

CAAR fights on your behalf for issues and regulations that impact your business – issues like safe product handling, site security and training. We strive to bring your perspective to regulators before decisions are made, and work to ensure that the laws and guidelines they develop make sense for your business. Through years of meetings, events and correspondence, CAAR has become a well known and respected face on Parliament Hill and with other industry groups. We continually research the issues that may affect you, and encourage you to advise the CAAR office on any issues we should be addressing.

CAAR actively defends the agri-retail industry and continues to seek out ways to support agri-retailers across Canada. CAAR is proud to represent the agri-retail industry in several forums including attendance and speaking opportunities at national and international events.

Here are just some of the ways CAAR is advocating on behalf of agri-retailers:

Advocacy and Education Initiatives

CAAR is proud to support and keep retailers informed of many important initiatives in Canadian agriculture, such as:

Pesticide Initiatives

CAAR has actively promoted a sound science approach to responsible pesticide use and stewardship, participating in initiatives like:

• MB Pesticide Ban – Bill 55
• Responsible Chemical Use and Our Export Markets
• CleanFARMS

Industry Roundtables and Coalitions

There are many roundtables, coalitions, and other groups coming together to build a variety of strategies for the long-term success of agriculture, and CAAR is proud to support and stay connected to as many of those initiatives as possible, including:

• Honey Bee Health Coalition
• Canadian Field Print Initiative
• Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops
• Biotech Coalition
• Canadian Seed Round Table

Nutrient Management Initiatives

CAAR is a proud supporter of initiatives like 4R that focus on proper stewardship of crop nutrients, and seeks to actively encourage a sound science approach to regulations on all levels. Recent activity includes:

• 4R Nutrient Stewardship
• MB Restriction on Winter Application of Nutrients

Seed Initiatives

CAAR actively participated in support of Bill C-18, and supports messaging that helps encourage a clear understanding of the vital role that seed technology plays in the growth of agriculture, such as:

• Bill C‐18: Agricultural Growth Act
• PBR Facts