Online training is now available for Saskatchewan producers seeking access to 2% liquid strychnine for targeted Richardson’s ground squirrel control under the province’s Strychnine Stewardship Program.
The training is mandatory for producers in eligible rural municipalities and is one of the key conditions attached to the Emergency Use Registration granted through Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency, said a provincial release on Tuesday.
The emergency registration allows limited strychnine use in 208 rural municipalities (RMs) in the province until November 2027, after producers and municipalities raised concerns about severe Richardson’s ground squirrel infestations and the need for additional control options.
The 90-minute online course, offered through the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, covers responsible strychnine use, environmental protection, integrated pest management, and pesticide safety. Producers must also complete a Treatment Plan and Declaration Form before becoming certified users.
Agriculture Minister David Marit encouraged producers planning to use strychnine to complete the training early, so they are ready to access supplies once they become available.
Participating RM offices are expected to begin distributing strychnine to certified users later this spring. An initial limited supply is expected in early June, followed by additional monthly shipments. The product will be distributed evenly among participating RMs, with per-producer caps in place to manage supply.
Because the spring application window closes June 15, producers are being urged to rely on alternative registered rodenticides, along with biological and cultural control methods, over the next month. Strychnine inventories are expected to improve ahead of the July 15 to September 1 application window.
