ATB Financial has signed up as a provincial sponsor of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors Inc. in Alberta for a third consecutive year, announced Liz Robertson, executive director, on Friday.

“ATB is committed to doing what is in the best interests of the customer which compliments CAFA’s mission of assisting farm businesses by increasing the skills and knowledge of farm advisors,” Robertson noted. CAFA’s members include, among others, accountants, financial planners, lenders, lawyers, agrologists and even some interested farmers. CAFA has six chapters in Alberta with additional chapters from Vancouver Island through to eastern Ontario.

“CAFA’s Certified Agricultural Farm Advisor certification is how agri-businesses and farm families can identify advisors that have a specialty in the agricultural sector. All members are expected to maintain their professionalism and ethics through their primary organization, additionally, members in CAFA have made a commitment to keeping up-to-date and aware of the policies, programs and issues that impact their farming clients” said Robertson. “With the complexities and unique planning challenges agriculture can have, not only do producers need professional advisors, but often, they benefit from hiring a whole team of advisors to work together as an advisory board. CAFA helps foster this team approach”.

CAFA represents Canada’s only national network of farm advisors and has seen growth in excess of 100% in each of the last three years. “Our growth reflects a need for the education we offer our members and the benefits of networking with other professionals also dealing with farm clients”, Robertson said. “It also demonstrates that there is a need for advisors familiar with the unique aspects of planning for farm businesses and farm families”