Alberta Farmers and Government Push for Strychnine Approval to Combat Gopher Infestations
Southern Alberta farmer LeRoy Newman is facing a critical challenge on his land near Aldersyde and in the Stettler area. Richardson's ground squirrels, commonly known as gophers, are wreaking havoc on his pasture and crop production, with losses estimated at 30 to 40 percent. "It's kind of devastating," Newman stated, highlighting the severe impact of these burrowing rodents on agricultural operations.
Federal Regulatory Denial Sparks Outcry
On Friday, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) denied an emergency request from the Alberta government to allow the use of a two percent liquid strychnine concentrate for controlling Richardson's ground squirrels in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Strychnine, while banned in Canada, is considered by farmers as an effective tool against these persistent pests.
Newman explained that without strychnine, producers are left with expensive and less effective alternatives. "Predators can help control the gopher population, but sometimes a pesticide like strychnine is needed," he said. On crop land, gopher damage leads to weed infestations that can persist for years, compounding the problem.
Economic and Agricultural Impacts
The Grain Growers of Canada echoed these concerns in a statement, asserting that no alternative matches strychnine's effectiveness. This leaves Prairie farmers without a viable tool to manage what they describe as "a persistent and highly destructive" agricultural pest. The organization warned of "substantial economic harm through lost yields and long-term land damage."
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson urged the PMRA to reconsider, calling strychnine a "practical solution" for producers. He emphasized that the annual risk to hay and native pastures exceeds $800 million, and the growing gopher population threatens farms and ranches nationwide. Sigurdson added that this decision could exacerbate Canada's ongoing food affordability and security crisis.
Political Pressure Mounts
Foothills MP John Barlow, the Conservative Party of Canada's agriculture critic, revealed that he and Minister Sigurdson have sent a letter to federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald. They are requesting intervention to have the PMRA reassess its decision through an "economic lens." Barlow argued that if the agency did not consider economic impacts, food costs, and food security in its assessment, it should revisit the ruling.
The Alberta government's emergency-use request included enhanced stewardship measures, targeted application windows, and additional safeguards to mitigate risks to non-target species. Despite these precautions, the PMRA's denial stands, leaving farmers like Newman grappling with the consequences of unchecked gopher populations on their livelihoods.
