As we wrap up 2024-25, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on a very unique year. This year was an opportunity to continue building on the transformative work that we’ve undertaken, driven by our farmer-led strategic plan, over the past three years since taking on the role of President. This reflection also provides an opportunity to look forward to the upcoming year and all that it has to offer.  

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This past year was one unlike many, with trade and Canada’s relationship with two of our largest trading partners, U.S. and China, at the centre of every discussion. Seeing more Canadians understanding the impact that politics can have on industries like ours was almost bittersweet. It was unfortunate that it took such extreme measures, such as tariffs targeting key Manitoba industries like canola and pork, but we are cautiously optimistic that the current geopolitical dynamics have woken more people up to the realities that are faced by farmers operating in a global market. Recent months have seen some relief from these tariff pressures on agricultural products heading to China, however this is the start of what will be significant work that needs to be done on the global stage. 

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Moving into a new year, we know that trade will ultimately remain at the forefront of everything we do. This doesn’t mean we can let other critical issues fall by the wayside, but as we enter the review of the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), it is critical that agriculture be top of mind in Canada’s trade discussions. Different industries will be jockeying to have their interests at the top of the list; we must be working together across the entire value chain to ensure agriculture remains at the top. Through my position on the Premier’s U.S. Trade Council, I've had the privilege of advising the province on agricultural priorities over the past year and in 2026 will continue to do so in the context of CUSMA that they can carry these priorities to the federal government.

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One of the main efforts we are prioritizing for the upcoming year includes a focus on partnerships and expansion of KAP’s presence in the public sphere, getting agriculture on the minds of decision-makers. These efforts expanded in 2024-25 and will continue to do so moving forward. This includes the implementation of our Associate Membership category to engage key organizations and groups in agriculture in our work, and through increased presence and exposure with key partner events such as the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. One example includes KAP’s Presenting Sponsorship of the Deputy Ministers Dinner in November 2025.

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Another key area of advocacy focus will include labour, with ongoing work through a multitude of channels such as the KAP Labour Task Group, Internationally Educated Veterinary (IEV) Working Group, partnership renewal with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), and the development of our Career Pathways Program online portal to attract more individuals to work in agriculture. Significant work has already taken place in 2024-25 through the IEV Working Group with producer groups, government, and veterinarians at the table, and this work will continue with tangible solutions brought forward in the coming months. It is crucial that we work with groups like CAHRC, Agriculture in the Classroom MB, 4-H Manitoba, EMILI, post-secondary institutions, and others to understand and promote the current and future workforce skills that are needed, for both on and off-farm jobs. 

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When it comes to engagement and outreach with our members, this is an area that always we strive to increase, and 2025-26 will be no different. This year, we have young farmers at the top of the list when it comes to engagement. That is why we are working with Farm Credit Canada (FCC), Farm Management Canada (FMC) and 4-H Manitoba on a variety of events and initiatives, including involvement by planning, attending, and sponsoring FMC’s 2025 AgEx Conference in Winnipeg. We will also be looking to plan for future KAP hosted young farmer engagement opportunities through events, meetings, and other exciting activities. 

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Other engagement opportunities for farmers will include in-person district engagement events, with speakers on key topics like rural crime, tax & farm succession planning, and more. We also invite all members to sign up online and attend our AGM in Winnipeg, taking place on February 3, 2026, which will feature important KAP updates and roundtable discussion opportunities in key policy areas. Providing engagement opportunities through events with valuable content is a critical component of the overall value of your KAP membership, and this is something that we will focus on for the upcoming year. 

 

The common theme with all of this work is partnership. Without partners who share our priorities and vision, we will not be able to achieve anywhere near the amount we would like to. It’s absolutely fundamental that KAP brings the specific interests of Manitoba farmers to the forefront; this is the lifeblood of our organization. However, we also must find partners who share these concerns and have a willingness to advance solutions that will solve challenges being faced by our members. As Manitoba’s general farm organization, we see ourselves as a hub for collaboration.

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While I am entering my final year of being eligible to serve as KAP President, the four-year strategic vision that we set as a board will continue to carry on through 2027. All of the actions and decisions that we have taken as a board during my time have been focused on the long-term success of KAP, and this upcoming year will be no different. 

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We will be bold; we will be strategic; we will be collaborative; and above all else, we will be farmer-focused and do what’s right for the 14,543 farm operations in our province. Whether you’re growing crops, raising livestock, producing supply managed commodities, or any other of Manitoba’s beautiful mosaic of agricultural products that we create, we are committed to having your voice heard so farmers are at the table, not on it.