The County of Stettler Agricultural Services Board (ASB)  has unanimously approved submitting a resolution seeking a one-year extension of the emergency registration for 2% liquid strychnine at its regular ASB council meeting on Sept. 16.

The product is temporarily authorized for controlling Richardson’s ground squirrels, commonly called gophers, in approved areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The current federal registration runs from March 30, 2026 to Nov. 1, 2027.

County administration said delays in obtaining and distributing the product during the first year prevented many producers from using it during the best treatment period.

The federal approval was announced March 30, but Alberta expected only a limited supply to become available through municipalities in late May or early June. Provincial guidance identifies early spring, before vegetation becomes green, as the most effective treatment period.

Assistant director of operations Robert Klatt told the board that the timing of the 2026 rollout did not provide producers with a proper opportunity to evaluate the product under effective treatment conditions.

Administration said the delayed start also limited the amount of useful information collected on product effectiveness, producer participation and stewardship requirements.

An additional year would provide two full treatment seasons for evaluation. The county’s memo said ground squirrel populations, weather, environmental conditions and producer participation can change substantially between years, making information from more than one complete season important.

The County of Stettler distributed $14,960 worth of strychnine to 68 producers as of Aug. 4. Approximately 62 hours of staff time had been used to sell the product, administer the program and upload supporting documents.

A total of 142 county producers had completed the required stewardship training, but only four product evaluation forms had been submitted by the time the administration report was prepared.

Access to strychnine is tightly controlled. Producers must complete annual training, provide a treatment and monitoring plan and sign a declaration agreeing to follow product requirements.

Users must also post signs at treatment sites, monitor treated areas and collect and properly dispose of carcasses. Those measures are intended to reduce the danger of strychnine poisoning wildlife, livestock, pets and other non-target species.

During the Sept. 16 meeting, board members said the County of Stettler had been encouraged to bring the resolution forward because the region has been heavily involved in efforts to restore access to strychnine.

The resolution was expected to be submitted to the provincial Agricultural Service Board process by Sept. 23.

Council also discussed seeking support from another municipality if a seconder is required.

Council suggested Mountain View County or another neighbouring municipality would likely support the request. Administration was directed to confirm the procedural requirements.

Council also discussed involving the Rural Municipalities of Alberta in any federal advocacy that may be required.

Approval of the resolution does not extend the strychnine registration. The request must proceed through the provincial resolution process and any change to the registration would require approval from the federal pesticide regulator.