Cleanfarms has asked CAAR to request ag retailers remind customers to bring back empties over the next month and to submit final pickup requests. 

Cleanfarms is collecting unused farm meds and pesticides in Canada this fall, heading to four regions for a green cleanup, helping farmers offload unused products.

In mid-August, the Wheat Growers Association (WG) launched a young farmer mentorship program to encourage young farmers to get informed and involved with agriculture policy.

Cleanfarms has posted its 2022 annual report, showcasing the expansion of on-the-ground programs that Canadian farmers use to manage waste agricultural plastic products and packaging for recycling or safe disposal when they are no longer needed.

The Market Access Committee has released information about new pesticides in corn and soy that are to be launched for the 2023 crop season. The committee stated that is has no trade concerns with the use of five new corn pesticides and two new soy pesticides.

In addition to the recent launch of an Online Study Guide for both the International and Prairie Board CCA exams, the Prairie Certified Crop Advisor Board Exam Committee has put together a series of four online live tutorials for each study category.

Devron McLeod will leverage his sales and marketing experience in the agriculture industry to lead FMC in Canada

As previously reported in CAAR Network, in June 2022, Quebec’s Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques implemented regulations regarding the recovery and reclamation of products by companies.  Cleanfarms has prepared a webpage to help decipher the information for those in the agriculture industry.

In June 2022, Quebec’s Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques passed the Regulation respecting the recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises.

Cleanfarms will be collecting unwanted, old agriculture pesticides this Fall in six regions: British Columbia/Alberta Peace River Region; Northern Alberta; Manitoba; Ontario and Newfoundland

Throughout the 2020/2021 winter Cleanfarms commissioned grower research to better understand farmers' attitudes and behaviours around ag plastics recycling. The research shows that when recycling programs are made available, farmers will overwhelmingly use them over other means.

Cleanfarms’ empty pesticide & fertilizer container recycling program undergoes a big change in Alberta and Manitoba.

Every year for the past 32 years, Cleanfarms calculates the rolling three-year average recycling rate of agricultural pesticide and fertilizer containers that are 23L and smaller.

The great news is that the 2020 recycling calculated rate shows another major surge in recycling these containers in 2020 at 76% compared to 71% in 2019. This sets an all-time record for recycling empty ag plastic jugs in Canada.

This fall, retailers across Canada will be participating in the Cleanfarms 2019 Obsolete Collection Campaign. CAAR members are encouraged to let their customers know about this free service which allows farmers to safely dispose of unwanted or obsolete pesticides and animal medications.

In partnership with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), CleanFARMS is inviting Saskatchewan farmers to safely dispose of their obsolete pesticides and livestock medications from Oct. 23 – 27.

CleanFARMS is running a free obsolete pesticide and livestock medication collection program in Manitoba from Oct. 24-28.

CleanFARMS is running a free obsolete pesticide and livestock medication collection program from Oct. 3-7 at 20 agri-retail locations.

CleanFARMS is once again collecting unwanted or obsolete pesticides and livestock medications at no cost to Canadian producers.

CleanFARMS' new program encourages Ontario farmers to return empty seed and pesticide bags after they have finished planting this spring.

Farmers in Alberta returned 70,737 kilograms of obsolete and unwanted pesticides and 2,162 kilograms of livestock and equine medications through CleanFARMS' obsolete collection campaign this year.

Cathy and Bill Vitucci of Wellandport, Ontario have been recognized as the grand prize winners of The Great Ontario Clean Farms Challenge.

CleanFARMS is bringing their free obsolete medications and pesticides collection program to selected sites in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

CleanFARMS, a not-for-profit ag waste management organization, is offering a no-cost opportunity for Saskatchewan farmers to dispose of unwanted pesticides and medications.

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