A look at CAAR’s plans and priorities for 2020.

CAAR’s staff, board of directors and committee groups are putting in the work to ensure the association is well-equipped at all levels to provide valuable services and dependable support to its members in the next year, and throughout the new decade.

SPONSORED BY FERTILIZER CANADA: Fertilizer is one of nature’s most complex and beneficial resources, as it allows soil to become more productive and yield better crops. Without it, we simply couldn’t produce enough corn, wheat, rice, or other crops needed to feed the world’s population. Faced with a growing global population, less arable land, and environmentally-conscious consumers, farmers are looking for ways to grow more crops on the same land while protecting the environment. It’s a tall order to be sure, but farmers are up to the challenge.

Focusing on strategic objectives drove the association forward in 2019. 

By all accounts, 2019 was a trying year for Canadian agriculture. Between trade barriers, extreme weather and drought, and a seemingly endless harvest, no one along the value chain was immune from adversity. Though it was difficult to see the industry struggle, Mitch Rezansoff, CAAR’s executive director, says that the industry’s collective strength was also on display.

1995 AN ASSOCIATION IS BORN:
The Western Fertilizer and Chemical Dealers Association (WFCDA) unanimously votes to dissolve the organization and transfer its funds to a new national association. With that, the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers, headquartered in Winnipeg, Man., is born. Randy Wogelmuth is elected president of the CAAR board of directors; Jacqueline Ryrie is the association’s first executive director.

A lot has changed since 1995, but Canadian ag retailers continue to drive innovation in their own businesses and with their customers. Celebrate all your association has achieved over the past 25 years with friends and colleagues at the 2020 CAAR Conference! We’ll see you in Saskatoon from Feb. 11–13!

Of all the stories we get to tell in this magazine, some of my favourites are those that appear in our sustainability department. These articles tend to deal with topics that take place at the intersection of advancements in technology and appreciation of a precious resource.