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June marked the end of CAAR’s 2025-2026 fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. It was a month full of engaging with members, advocating on behalf of ag retailers and increasing CAAR’s profile and role in the agriculture industry.
CAAR’s committees, which have been renewed and strengthened, are busy at work on different priorities for the year ahead. The advocacy, marketing, member value and training committees all met, and the convention committee is providing valuable input into the 2026 CAAR Connect Convention, which will take place in Regina from November 17 to 19. We will share more details as we lead up to registration opening on September 1.
In June, CAAR welcomed Prime Minister Carney’s announcement on funding for the National Food Security Strategy and was invited to attend two Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Roundtable discussions to learn more about the funding and who can apply. CAAR also provided feedback on the AAFC’s Next Policy Framework consultation, which wrapped up at the end of June.
Getting engaged
CAAR was asked to participate in two very impactful committees – the National Agricultural Soil Health Strategy, led by Soil Conservation Council of Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the CFIA Working Groups on Customer Formula Fertilizer Labelling Alternative. Five independent retailers and two of our larger members participated in the meeting on bulk fertilizer labelling to provide input and speak on behalf of Canada’s ag retail sector.
CAAR met with OABA and RVQ to discuss issues of importance and collaboration opportunities under the new Canadian ag retail allied partnership that the three organizations have formed to bring a united voice to ag retail across Canada. CAAR has also become a supporter of CAPI, the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), where agri-food leaders come together to share insights and advance ideas on emerging issues facing the ag sector.
Expanding our reach
This week, CAAR is in Saskatoon attending Seeds Canada’s annual conference and launching CAAR’s inaugural Ag Retail Management Certificate Program. CAAR’s Executive Director Myrna Grahn will be attending the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s Policy Summit and Summer Meeting in Halifax in mid-July. Myrna will be meeting with ag retailers in Nova Scotia while she is there to learn more about the business in Eastern Canada and expand CAAR’s national reach.
As we embark on a new year, these invitations and engagements speak to CAAR’s progress and commitment to strengthen and advocate for the ag retail sector in Canada. CAAR and its members are being invited to sit at the tables that are important to our members and provide valuable input and insight from Canadian ag retailers.
We will continue to keep you updated on news and developments as they happen. Your feedback is equally important as we represent the voice of ag retailers and speak on your behalf. As always, if there are issues or concerns that you'd like to raise, please reach out to Myrna anytime at myrna@caar.org. CAAR is your member association and we want to represent your interests as the voice of ag retail in Canada.
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(L to R) Myrna, Brent Derkatch from
Canterra Seeds, and Crystal MacKay from Loft32.
| (L to R) CAAR Ag Retail Management Certificate participants with Desmond Sobool, FCC's Deputy Chief Economist. | | |
Ag Retail Management Certificate participants
Travis Clarke, Troy Lyster and Kevin Beeson
with Seeds Canada CEO Dan Wright.
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(L to R) Chase Smith, CAAR board member Eric Gregory
from Brett Young and Madelena Chenier.
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Stronger together. Delivering for Canadian Agriculture.
CAAR's board of directors met in Winnipeg for two days this spring to discuss strategy and set priorities for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which began on July 1. The board identified five strategic priorities that will guide our advocacy, work and investments to support a strong, resilient and competitive ag retail sector. These priorities are:
- Workforce & Talent Sustainability
- Profitability & Business Viability
- Customer Relevance & Value Delivery
- Supply Chain Resilience
- Regulatory Modernization & Competitiveness
Here's an overview of what each of these priorities means and what we will be working towards. We'll dive into each priority over the next few issues of the CAAR Communicator and keep you updated on the work we are doing in each area.
| Ag Retail Management Certificate program | | |
New program underway this week!
We are excited to officially kick off the inaugural CAAR Ag Retail Management Certificate Program with our first in-person session in Saskatoon on July 6 and 7. This program would not be possible without the generous support of our Program Sponsor, Farm Credit Canada (FCC), and our Event Sponsor, Seeds Canada.
While in Saskatoon, 13 participants will take part in a day-and-a-half of interactive learning designed to strengthen leadership capabilities, expand industry knowledge, and foster meaningful connections with fellow ag retail professionals. As part of the experience, the cohort will be attending the Seeds Canada Welcome Reception, providing an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, expand their professional networks, and build relationships with fellow participants. Together, these experiences will foster the collaboration, connections, and sense of community that are central to the program's success.
Introducing the class of 2026:
- Chase Smith, Retail Manager, The Rack / Rack Petroleum Ltd.
- Cory Laird, Branch Manager, Sturgeon Valley Fertilizers
- Kevin Beeson, Territory Manager, McEwens Fuels & Fertilizers
- Kyla Lafreniere, Territory Manager, McEwens Fuels & Fertilizers
- Laurissa Fedorchuk, Sales & Operations Manager, Riverbend Co-op
- Madelena Chenier, UY Business Development Lead, The Rack / Rack Petroleum Ltd.
- Michelle Ramsden, Administration, Holmes Agro
- Mike McGregor, Retail Manager, The Rack / Rack Petroleum Ltd.
- Mike Sittler, Assistant Manager, The Rack / Rack Petroleum Ltd.
- Travis Clarke, Operations, Holmes Agro
- Troy Leicht, Agribusiness Manager, The Rack / Rack Petroleum Ltd.
- Troy Lyster, Territory Manager, McEwens Fuels & Fertilizers
Meet the facilitators
One of the program's greatest strengths is the exceptional group of facilitators who will guide participants throughout the journey. Participants will learn from respected industry leaders, subject matter experts, and specialists who bring decades of real-world experience and practical knowledge to the program. These individuals have led teams, built businesses, navigated industry challenges, and helped shape the ag retail industry.
By sharing not only their expertise, but also the lessons learned throughout their careers, these facilitators provide insights that simply cannot be found in textbooks or online searches. Participants will gain valuable industry perspectives while developing the skills, tools, and confidence needed to lead teams, strengthen customer relationships, make informed business decisions, and drive results within their organizations.
A special thank you to our facilitators for their commitment to this program and their willingness to invest in the growth and development of participants:
- Crystal Mackay, Loft32
- Justin Funk, Agri Studies Inc.
- Lauren Van Ewyk, National Farmer Mental Health Alliance
- Merle Massie, The Do More Ag Foundation
- Phil Griffeth, Stone Ridge Consulting
- Terri Hamilton, T. Hamilton Consulting
- Viktoria Schuler, CAHRC
- Myrna Grahn, CAAR
- Lisa Siragusa, CAAR
| | CAAR Ag Retail Management Certificate class of 2026. | | |
A major change to Canada’s pesticide law has shifted some of the country’s most sensitive regulatory decisions from scientific officials to the federal cabinet. Bill C-30, which received royal assent on June 18, allows cabinet to authorize or reinstate certain pesticides after the health minister concludes that their environmental risks are unacceptable.
The change is narrower—and still more consequential—than the political shorthand suggests. Cabinet cannot override a finding that a pesticide poses unacceptable risks to human health. It can, however, set aside an environmental-risk decision when ministers believe the product is needed to protect national or regional economic security or Canada’s food supply. Supporters describe the authority as an emergency tool for crop failures and severe supply disruptions. Critics see a pathway for political and commercial considerations to overrule scientific conclusions.
What the new law changes
Canada’s Pest Control Products Act has long identified the prevention of unacceptable risks to people and the environment as the health minister’s primary objective. Before a pesticide can be registered, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency assesses its risks, its effectiveness and the conditions under which it would be used. A product generally qualifies only when officials have reasonable certainty that its approved use will not harm human health, future generations or the environment.
Bill C-30 retains that primary objective but adds a new consideration. The minister must now take account, where appropriate, of national economic security, regional economic security and national food security. More significantly, the law creates two routes through which cabinet—the Governor in Council in formal legal language—can intervene after an unfavourable environmental decision. That represents a meaningful transfer of authority. Scientists still conduct the assessment and state whether the environmental risk is acceptable, but elected ministers can reach a different final outcome when broader economic or food-supply concerns are invoked.
Read the full article: Carney government gives cabinet power to authorize pesticides Health Canada deemed unsafe.
| | 2026 CAAR Connect Convention sponsorship | |
Become a sponsor!
The annual CAAR Connect Convention is a success thanks in large part to the support of our many sponsors. Thanks to their sponsorship dollars, we are able to UNITE our members and bring the ag retail community together once a year to learn about the latest trends and news impacting our industry and network with friends and colleagues.
Get involved! Become a sponsor this year and help support this important event for ag retail, which will take place November 17 to 19 at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina. There are many sponsorship opportunities available and we're happy to customize a sponsorship if you have something special in mind.
Thank you to ADAMA Canada, Meridian Manufacturing and SeCan for signing on as sponsors of the 2026 CAAR Connect Convention. View the sponsorship package to learn more about the opportunities or contact Tracey Shelton, Communications & Convention Manager, at tracey@caar.org.
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Fewer Leak Paths. Better Protection.
Sponsored content: GSI
| | GSI's EVO 2X grain bin eliminates half the vertical seams by doubling the length of each sidewall sheet and reducing the bolt count by 50 per cent, reinforcing every connection and minimizing water entry points. With the strength to handle high peak loads and heavy snow, EVO 2X is built for the extreme demands of 90' diameter bins and larger. Learn more. | | Meet a Member: Elevation Ag Services | |
Elevation Ag sits at a powerful spot along Highway 16 between the Battlefords and Saskatoon. Owned by Luke Walker and Greg Orchard, who grew up on neighbouring farms, the full-service ag retail has seen tremendous growth since they purchased Kare Ag in 2021. Renamed Elevation Ag, they opened their second location in Blaine Lake, SK this spring.
“I think having two different owners with two very different personalities is a key reason for our success - we do things very differently,” says Walker, who also sits on CAAR’s board of directors.
As co-owners, Walker and Orchard share key roles in the organization, catering to the unique strengths each brings. For Walker, that’s all things people – “I love coaching and getting the best out of people”, while Orchard's passion is selling and dealing directly with customers.
Buying an existing retail and molding it into their ideal operation didn’t happen overnight. Kare Ag was already a successful venture, so they built on that foundation—expanding and renovating facilities to improve the service they could offer customers. Existing staff, and adding new ones, were a pivotal part of the company’s evolution.
“Building relationships, delivering service, and elevating success are the core values we really believe in,” says Walker. “We want to know our growers and their farms as well as they do, and we want to know their business well enough to help them succeed.”
The team at Elevation Ag is active in the communities where they live and serve. They’re regular faces at the Radisson curling rink, coaching school sports, playing rec hockey, and making full use of local facilities.
“Our communities need to see people working and living in the community. We’re not going anywhere, we’re investing in our communities with our time,” says Walker. “We’re thankful every day for the opportunity to work alongside the farming communities we serve.”
For more information, visit www.elevationag.ca.
(Credit: Winfield United)
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CAAR is pleased to welcome the following new members to the CAAR ag retail community:
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CAAR has become a supporting partner of CAPI, the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. CAPI is the place for agri-food leaders to come together, share insights and advance ideas on emerging issues facing this important sector. Established as an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit corporation in 2004 with an initial grant from the federal government, CAPI is guided by a diverse board of directors and works extensively with partners to fulfill its mandate.
CAPI runs a regular series of webinars that are open to all. Their next webinar - The Next Framework is Coming - What Should Agriculture Expect? - takes place July 23.
As government, industry, and stakeholders look beyond the current agricultural policy framework, important questions remain about how Canada can strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resilience of its agri-food sector. Join CAPI and RealAgriculture for an Ag Policy Exchange exploring the key opportunities and challenges that should shape Canada’s next agricultural policy framework.
This webinar will bring together sector leaders and policy experts to discuss priorities for the next policy framework landscape, including productivity growth, innovation and technology adoption, trade and competitiveness, and food system resilience. Participants will gain insights into emerging policy directions and the actions needed to position Canada’s agri-food sector for long-term success.
To register, click here.
| EMILI Field Day - July 15 | |
Celebrate EMILI’s 10th anniversary at EMILI’s Innovation Farms in Grosse Isle, MB! Join EMILI at Innovation Farms powered by AgExpert on Wednesday, July 15 to celebrate a decade of innovation and collaboration in agtech. This event will explore how digital technologies are shaping the future of agriculture efficiency, and is open to anyone interested in learning more about EMILI’s work to drive agriculture innovation. Experience hands-on technology demonstrations of cutting-edge solutions from industry leaders including Verge Ag, Corteva Agriscience, Duck Foot Parts, and PTx Trimble. To register, click here.
At EMILI’s Innovation Farms powered by AgExpert, EMILI provides innovators across industry and academia with access to leading-edge equipment, technology, and production practices to increase productivity, sustainability, and profitability across the agriculture and agri-food sector. Innovation Farms is located on two Manitoba farms; Rutherford Farms, a 5,500+ acre seed farm in Grosse Isle, and J.P. Wiebe Inc., a 10,000 acre farm with approximately 3,000 acres dedicated to potatoes in MacGregor.
| CAHRC: New monthly AgHR Check-In | |
CAHRC, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, is launching a new monthly Ag HR Check-In, a virtual opportunity for producers, farm managers or HR professionals to connect, discuss workforce challenges, and share practical solutions with peers from across the industry. Join CAHRC for an informal, agriculture-focused discussion on pressing HR topics, including:
- Recruitment and retention challenges
- Employee relations and workplace culture
- Leadership and supervisor development
- Performance management
- Workforce planning
- Immigration and foreign worker updates
The first Ag HR Check-In will take place on Thursday, July 9 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. EST. Additional sessions will take place August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5 and December 3. To register for any of the sessions, click here.
| Supplier Spotlight: Meridian Manufacturing | | |
Meridian Manufacturing is a leading North American manufacturer of bulk storage and material handling solutions, serving agriculture, industrial, and energy markets. Meridian is a division of WGI Westman Group Inc., a dynamic group of companies headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. WGI operates manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities across North America and brings a shared commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service.
With more than 60 years of experience, Meridian designs and builds equipment that delivers performance, reliability, and value across a wide range of applications. Meridian’s storage and handling solutions for agri-business fertilizer sites are designed to provide maximum efficiency, safety, and durability for bulk fertilizer.
With customizable configurations and a variety of storage silos to choose from, Meridian can tailor builds to meet specific requirements. If they don’t have the storage solution customers need in their extensive storage lineup already, Meridian's team of engineers can custom design one at one of their production facilities.
Backed by a vast network of Meridian Authorized Dealers and working hand in hand with some of the top engineering and facility design teams, customers can count on Meridian's combined expertise to ensure the right setup for their fertilizer storage needs. With production facilities in Canada and the U.S. and more than 1,000 members across North America, Meridian is well-positioned to supply both North American and global markets with responsive service and shorter lead times.
| | Reminder: 2026-27 CAAR membership | CAAR is your membership association. To ensure that you continue to receive timely Member Alerts, the monthly CAAR Communicator e-newsletter, access to CAAR Connect sessions and other valuable communication and services, make sure your CAAR membership is current for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which began July 1. To join or to renew your CAAR membership, log in to CAAR's Member365 portal here or contact Lisa Siragusa at lisa@caar.org. | | |
July 6 - 8: Seeds Canada Annual Conference - Saskatoon, SK
July 15: EMILI Field Day at Innovation Farms - Grosse Isle, MB
July 15 & 16: Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) Summer Meeting - Halifax, NS
November 17 - 19: 2026 CAAR Connect Convention - Regina, SK
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Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers
205 – 1 Wesley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6
Toll Free: 800-463-9323
Phone: 204-989-9300
Email: info@caar.org
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