More Saskatchewan farmers permitted to use strychnine for gopher control

The area where Saskatchewan farmers will be permitted to use strychnine to control gophers has been significantly expanded.

Saskatchewan and Alberta jointly submitted an emergency use request to the federal government, asking for the ban on strychnine to be lifted in order to let agricultural producers get a handle on Richardson’s ground squirrels – commonly referred to as gophers – which can cause significant damage to crops and pastures.

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The request was granted on March 30, and will remain in effect until 2027, but it only applied to certain areas, covering roughly seven of the province’s crop districts.

After hearing concerns from farmers, the province submitted a request to Health Canada last week, asking for the area to be expanded to rural municipalities with the largest gopher populations, while also protecting at-risk species. That request was also granted, the province announced on Thursday, expanding the area to include 208 RMs across about 15 crop districts in western and southern areas of Saskatchewan.

“We heard from farmers and ranchers that further expanding the eligible area was necessary,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said in a statement.

“This change better reflects regions with the highest Richardson’s ground squirrel populations and ensures producers have access to the right tools to manage this pest.”

The area where strychnine can be used to control gophers has been expanded to include 208 RMs across about 15 crop districts in western and southern areas of Saskatchewan. (Government of Saskatchewan/Submitted)

Darren Gosling, a farmer and councillor in the RM of Lake Johnston, had been upset about the RM’s exclusion from the original map.

“Very pleased,” he said, reacting to the news of the expanded areas for strychnine use on Thursday. “It’s good news for the farmers and ratepayers around here.

“Any expansion, or if we can get that broad coverage, it’s a win situation to try and get this gopher population under control,” he said. “This is not going to be a forever problem or a forever restriction lift, so it’s just nice to know that we’re all having the same equal chance of fighting this gopher problem.”

In order to ensure at-risk species are not harmed by the use of the pesticide, the province said the agreement includes measures like increased monitoring and requirements for carcass collection and disposal, along with “enhanced mandatory training.”

The agriculture ministry said it is developing a program on strychnine stewardship, which will be delivered through a partnership with the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, one of the groups that had advocated for the use of the pesticide.

“For the 2026 season, strychnine is expected to be available for a late-summer application,” the ministry noted in a statement. “If strychnine becomes available before the spring application window closes, producers will be notified through RMs.”

Gosling thinks that will be helpful, regardless.

“Earlier is always better,” he said. “If we knew we could have got it earlier, it would have just maybe controlled all the new birth and the young population that’s going to happen.

“But if we can still control them well before the crop gets too damaged, it’s a good thing.”

– with files from 980 CJME’s Geoff Smith