CAAR in Action

CAAR hit the ground running in January 2025, the beginning of our 30th anniversary year. Here are a few highlights of what I, as your executive director, have been engaged in.

  • GEAPS, Canadian Prairies Coolest Show – I met several CAAR members and was introduced to key members of the Canadian Prairies Chapter of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) at their Conference & Expo in Winnipeg. HiTech Installations’ own Ruchi Ryley was recently appointed to the GEAPS International Board of Directors, an amazing opportunity to represent Canada and our agriculture industry at an international level. I spoke with many companies interested in an audience with ag retailers. Hopefully, we will see them later this year at our 2025 tradeshow at the CAAR Connect Convention in November in Saskatoon!
  • Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon – This is Canada’s largest indoor farm show, with over 550 tradeshow booths and attendance over 12,000 per day. I talked to Manitoba’s Premier, the Honourable Wab Kinew and the Minister of Agriculture, Ron Kostyshyn. Ag Days provides a fantastic opportunity to meet the who’s who of our agriculture industry, learn about companies that work with ag retailers and meet some retailers and suppliers. It was great to engage in conversation with the staff who not only lead these companies but also work day-to-day with growers. We discussed issues, ideas and, of course, the benefits of a member association – Educate (training), Advocate and Unite. CAAR has a strong reputation out there and I am listening and learning to understand the different perspectives, gaps and needs of this sector.
  • Cereals Canada MRL Assessment Committee – CAAR is a member of Cereals Canada’s MRL Assessment Committee (MAC), which brings together members and participants from the broader cereals value chain to proactively evaluate the MRL-related trade risk of commercialization of chemistry/crop use patterns with new or amended registrations. MAC decisions inform product advisory communications via Keep it Clean! for the applicable crop year. I learned about import and export tolerances, specifically changes that Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Chile are proposing and making that impact our Canadian grown cereals. To learn more about product categorization and MRL decisions, check out the Keep it Clean website.
  • Building the Future of Agri-Retail: Empowering Students with Specialized Training – New training opportunities are being explored to enhance the education and skill development of future agriculture professionals. CAAR is exploring opportunities with post-secondary institutions across Canada, including the facilitation of an anhydrous ammonia course for students in agriculture programs. This initiative aligns with CAAR’s mission to promote education and safety in ag retail by equipping students with specialized training in the safe handling of anhydrous ammonia. The course will provide valuable industry knowledge, boost employability and help students meet the demands of modern farming practices while fostering a safer, more knowledgeable workforce and strengthening the connections between education and the agricultural industry.

CAAR Insider – Member Only Alerts

Did you know that only CAAR members receive a communication called the CAAR Insider with important information about ag retail? If you aren’t yet a member, here are the topics that you may have missed:

  • Pest Control Product Fees & Charges Regulations
  • Bulk Fertilizer Labelling Regulation Update
  • List of Discontinued Fertilizers – coming Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025

If you are a member of CAAR and did not receive these CAAR Insiders or if you have a question about your membership status, please contact Maikka Manacsa, member relations and communications manager, at maikka@caar.org.

What’s on the horizon?

  • PMRA Consultations
  • Ag Value Chain – Canada–U.S. Trade Discussion
  • National Agriculture Risk Management Meeting
  • CAAIN and the Government of Canada – Exploring Canada’s Role in Global Agriculture
  • Future of Food – Canada’s Agriculture Day
  • Canadian Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting and Conference
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