The past 3 months have been exceptionally busy months for the CAAR organization. We continue to evolve, and Members will begin to experience the changes in 2021.

Many issues of 2020 carried over into 2021, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ag industry has met the challenge with reliance and must remain diligent through 2021.

The first virtual CAAR Conference was hosted February 9-11 along with the CAAR Choice Awards and Pro-Ag Investments Auction. A total of 23 dynamic speakers and presentations providing a wide range of topics impacting the Canadian and international ag industry.

CAAR is in the process of updating and refreshing its focus, vision and branding which includes an overhaul of digital and print communications. CAAR has also joined a new partnership with Farms.com, which will support CAAR’s communications activities.

The CAAR Communicator will become available to a wider audience through digital format and the printed CAAR roster will be replaced by a digital format through our new CRM system. There will also be additional virtual seminars and online training opportunities available to members. CAAR’s virtual Annual General Meeting this Spring will be replacing the in-person event, typically hosted at the CAAR Conference.

CAAR will also be increasing its outreach with municipal, provincial and national government and stakeholders, many of these activities require the support of current and new members to further align CAAR’s priorities.

Spring is membership renewal time. CAAR relies heavily on membership to support the association’s operation. Your CAAR membership and committee engagement helps direct why we exist.

With your support, help us determine the direction for CAAR membership, advocacy, the conference, training and other CAAR events so we can maximize our value and better represent the Canadian ag retailers.

Member engagement is paramount to voicing our sustainability to agriculture stakeholders. A challenge I put forward to all involved in agriculture production is to review who is representing you on agriculture stakeholder committees at provincial and national levels.

A trend that has become increasingly apparent is the presence and domination of committees developing policy and regulations by minor and secondary interest groups. I’m not advocating the silencing of their voices, rather stating that committees require leadership representation of groups most impacted by policies and regulations developed without exception.

Future production practices that involve environmental legislation, codes of practice or patent rights to name a few, requires the input of the entire supply chain from farmer to end-use consumer. The social and economic impact must be considered. Is it good for business? Does it lessen our competitive position internationally? How are our international competitors responding? How do new regulations burden the day-to-day operations? If the agriculture industry is not represented, who is setting direction on your behalf?

Thank you,

Mitch Rezansoff
Executive Director, CAAR