On January 2, CCGA’s farmer Chair, Roger Chevraux, and Vice-President, Government & Industry Relations, Dave Carey, travelled to Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the
State Agriculture and Rural Leaders (SARL) annual Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit.
What is the SARL annual Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit?
Formed in 2006, SARL is dedicated to promoting and fostering cooperation, leadership, and educational opportunities among state and provincial legislators responsible for agriculture and rural communities in the U.S. and Canada. The annual Summit brings together elected agriculture leaders and industry stakeholders from both nations, in a forum to support dialogue and collaboration.
Why is it important?
Given the importance of the U.S. market for Canadian canola, rising uncertainty around the world with increasing protectionism, and a CUSMA review set to occur in 2026, building new and leveraging existing trade relations is critical to maintaining our market presence in the U.S.
Attending the SARL Summit is one of the many ways CCGA furthers connections in the U.S. With legislators from 27 States attending this year’s event, the Summit provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the mutually beneficial trade relationship Canada and the U.S. enjoy in canola.
Canada and the U.S. have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship, they are our largest market for canola exports, and those exports provide a great deal of direct, indirect, and induced benefits to the U.S.,’ says Dave Carey, Vice-President, Government & Industry Relations.