The County of Stettler has completed the first phase of its 2026 strychnine distribution program, with 62 agricultural producers receiving product to help control Richardson's ground squirrel populations.

An update presented to the Agricultural Services Board showed the county received an initial shipment of 40 cases of strychnine, enough to supply 80 lottery draws. Each successful applicant was eligible to purchase 12 bottles.

As of July 20, product valued at $13,640 had been distributed to producers. Six producers selected through the lottery declined their allocation, either because they did not plan to apply strychnine this season or were no longer interested in participating in the program.

County staff reported that administering the program has required approximately 37.2 hours of staff time to date. The work has included processing sales, ensuring producers completed the required stewardship training and meeting provincial documentation requirements.

One of the biggest challenges has been the volume of paperwork required by the province. Staff told the board they have already accumulated nearly 700 pages of documentation from the first distribution alone, all of which must be uploaded to the provincial reporting system. They expect the total to grow into the thousands of pages by the time all distributions are complete.

The county also sought clarification from Alberta Agriculture on how producers should report unused product. Under the current process, producers who do not use any of their allotted bottles this season can report them as carryover inventory at year-end, allowing those bottles to remain on file for future use rather than being surrendered.

To be eligible to purchase strychnine, producers must complete the mandatory Strychnine Stewardship Training for Producers. As of July 20, 125 County of Stettler producers had completed the certification.

County representatives also participated in a webinar with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation on July 21 to discuss the initial vendor distribution and review how the program is progressing across Alberta.

Strychnine remains one of the most tightly regulated tools available for controlling Richardson's ground squirrels, commonly known as gophers. The rodents can cause significant crop losses, reduce forage production and create hazards for livestock by leaving extensive burrow systems in hay and pastureland.

For decades, Alberta producers relied on strychnine-treated grain as one of the most effective methods of controlling large ground squirrel populations. However, concerns over secondary poisoning of non-target wildlife, including birds of prey and scavengers, resulted in much stricter controls on the product's sale and use.

In recent years, Alberta Agriculture has reintroduced a regulated distribution system that limits sales to certified producers through approved municipal vendors. The changes were made in response to growing producer concerns about increasing ground squirrel populations while maintaining strict oversight of how the restricted pesticide is distributed and used.

The County of Stettler continues to participate in the provincial program, providing local producers with access to the product while ensuring all provincial stewardship and reporting requirements are met.