SARM is offering the training course until Aug. 1
The mandatory training course for Prairie individuals planning to apply or distribute strychnine to control Richardson’s ground squirrels (gophers), is available now.
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is offering the course until Aug. 1 to people in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The training focuses on safe handling and use, monitoring and disposal to reduce risks to non-target species.
At least two days after finishing the training, participants can contact their local RM office for confirmation. This allows successful participants to access 2 per cent liquid strychnine.
In addition to the training, eligible farmers must:
- Provide a declaration form confirming significant gopher infestation,
- Provide a basic treatment plan including site location and land use,
- Monitor treated areas, dispose of carcasses, leftover product, and bait, and
- Provide a product evaluation form after use.
In Alberta, Agricultural Fieldmen in approved counties and Municipal Districts can distribute the product.
Approved areas include Beaver County, Cypress County, Wheatland County and the M.D. of Willow Creek.
In Saskatchewan, 208 RMs in 15 crop districts will have access to strychnine. The RM offices will handle distribution.
And RMs must complete mandatory pesticide vendor training and strychnine-specific training.
Some communities are warning farmers of limited supplies in the early stages.
“Due to limited supply, initial availability will be restricted to a maximum of 6 bottles per landowner for the spring application window (this will allow for 64 landowners to apply product,” Alberta’s Paintearth County said in an April 24 information update.
The federal Pesticides Regulatory Directorate, formerly the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, approved the emergency use of 2 per cent strychnine from March 30, 2026, to Nov. 1, 2027.