Strychnine Emergency Use Approved for Ground Squirrel Control

March 30, 2026 the Canadian Federal government posted a statement on their decision to move forward and allow Emergency Use Registration of 2% Strychnine for Richardson’s Ground Squirrel control in the 2026 growing season.

Statement from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food on Strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan – March 30, 2026

“We are pleased to have PMRA once again at the table working to respond to the current situation, and hope this is just the first step towards addressing this on going concern. What’s needed now is a long term solution that works on farm, not just in the lab.” Rob Siewert, Chair ASB Provincial Committee.

ASBs have been advising the provincial and federal governments that the the current Emergency Use Registration process managed by the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is not responsive enough to prevent the crop losses experienced last year.

Since the summer of 2025, Federal MPs and the ASBs surveyed farmers to capture the impact and stories to show that the alternative products are not practical or sufficient. The results of those surveys, along with increase political pressure that included letters from Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers to the Prime Minister, has resulted in the current one year Emergency Use Registration for 2% Strychnine.

“We appreciate the farmers and producers that took the time to answer the surveys which showed the on farm impacts. Your responses helped capture the extent of the problem and contributed to yesterday’s announcement.

Our position continues to be that Canadians need an effective, cost efficient, and environmentally responsible method to control RGS outbreaks. This was true in 1928 and it’s still true today.” Rob Siewert, Chair ASB Provincial Committee

Link to the Premier’s letter

Agricultural Fieldmen and ASB representatives from the ASB Provincial Committee have been meeting with provincial staff and PMRA since early January in a formal working group to determine how to respond in this current cropping season. The announcement yesterday was key to getting the ball rolling.

The product will be brought in, diluted and then made available in Alberta through MDs and Counties with vender certification. To purchase the product, producers will have be be from the designated areas, and be certified. Details are still being worked out, but with seeding just around the corner, all hands are on deck.

Background

Resolutions regarding strychnine access for Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (RGS) control have been nearly continuous since the changes made in 1992, moved the process to PMRA’s Emergency Use Registration system. The result was nearly annual applications for emergency use by the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

In 2012 the federal government finally granted temporary full registration until the completion of research and registration of an alternative product. In 2020 PMRA determined that the alternative product was equivalent and deregistered 2% Strychnine for Richardson’s Ground Squirrels, and began review on all other Strychnine products for all species. This means that the provinces could no longer apply for Emergency Use Registration because the product was no longer registered.

Resolution responses from PMRA and the resulting Federal, Provincial, Territorial Minister working group and resulting report state clearly that PMRA does not have a legal responsibility to consider the practical real world application of the products that they register, only to register or deregister based on the research they choose to accept.

 “While PMRA cannot legally take into account socio-economic costs and benefits in determining the acceptability of risks, the working group felt that the value of a pesticide should be considered in other aspects of PMRA’s work.”  Working Group on Pesticides Management,

Timeline

• October 2024 – Report to agriculture ministers from the FPT Working Group on Pesticides Management published – recommendations to include socio economic factors in pesticide registrations,
• January ASB Conference, ASBPC speak to the Minister about the growing concerns for RGS, told there was currently no path forward for Emergency Use Registration.
• January 2025 – ASBs publish and distribute the Position on Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (RGS) Control and advise long term solutions, with more efficient process.
• 2025 Summer – Federal MPs and ASBs survey of Farmers in Alberta regarding impact of RGS
• 2025 Fall – Federal MPs join farmers to advocate that the advice from ASBs for Emergency Use Registration of Strychnine in response to the crop losses reported in the surveys
• October 26, 2025 Federal Minister of agriculture states at the Standing Committee on Agriculture that he would support an exemption for Strychnine Emergency Use Registration
• Winter 2025 – Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan apply for Emergency Use Registration of 2% Strychnine for Richardson’s Ground Squirrels
• January 5, 2026 – ASBPC appoint members to the Strychnine Working Group that includes Agriculture Fieldmen (AAAF), and provincial staff to work with PMRA on emergency use registration
• January 30, 2026 – PMRA denies Emergency Use Registration and commits to collaboration on incentivising the continued use of alternative products
• February 12, 2026 – Alberta and Saskatchewan Premiers writes Prime Minister in support of Emergency Use Registration. The premiers asked for 3 years of registration while further research is conducted on the alternatives that are currently ineffective, urging for a product to be available for the 2026 growing season.
• PMRA comes back to the table
• March 30, 2026 – Emergency Use Registration is granted for one year.