Submitted
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities says it is appalled to learn that the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency has made final decision to cancel the approved use of strychnine to control Richardson Ground Squirrels. The PMRA鈥檚 decision is based on anecdotal assumptions, not recent research. In 2019, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture completed a study on the use of strychnine. This study indicated that despite a large number of non-target species present, death from strychnine was limited to only four deer mice.
鈥淲ith such a small proven environmental impact PMRA should be using SMA鈥檚 research to support the continued use of strychnine, not to discontinue it鈥� expressed President Ray Orb. 鈥淲e plan to meet with Minister Marit and decision makers in Ottawa鈥� said Orb 鈥淪ARM will take all steps needed to have the decision overturned or at minimum have our producers compensated for any crop damage due to gophers.鈥�
PMRA鈥檚 plan is to phase out the product over the next three years, making the product unavailable after March 4, 2021 and fully banned for use March 4, 2023. There is currently no alternative to control RGS.
In 1992 to 2001, 2 per cent liquid strychnine wasn鈥檛 available causing RGS populations to explode resulting in millions of dollars in losses to producers. In the years it has been made available populations have declined. Dry years with no effective method of control will result in devastating losses.
鈥淚 hope the province can appeal or at least delay the decision鈥� said Orb, 鈥淥ur producers don鈥檛 need to be enduring anymore hardships.鈥�
