Farmers in the County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 will soon have access to 2% liquid strychnine for gopher control after the federal government approved its emergency use. While the region is included in the approved zones for the product, local officials warn that supplies are not yet available and farmers should expect to wait until late May at the earliest.
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency authorized the emergency use of the product on March 30, 2026, with the approval lasting until November 2027. The decision follows a revised application from Alberta and Saskatchewan, addressing a previous denial from earlier this year. Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson has described the gopher population growth as an emergency, noting that the product is currently the only effective option for producers to protect their land.
Although the county is within the approved geographic zone, the local government does not yet have the product in stock. Distribution is estimated to take six to eight weeks following the importation and manufacturing process. Because supply is limited, farmers will also be required to complete mandatory training before they can purchase or use the product. This training is separate from the standard Farmer Pesticide Certificate and will be provided through municipal offices.
Producers seeking further updates on availability and local training sessions are encouraged to contact Stephen Majek, the Director of Agricultural Services for the County of Wetaskiwin, at 780-361-6226 or by email at [email protected]. In the meantime, the county advises that farmers should continue using alternative methods for gopher control.
The use of strychnine is intended to mitigate the significant damage ground squirrels cause to hay and native pastures, which the Alberta government estimates results in more than $800 million in annual risk to the agricultural sector.
