Communications

OTTAWA, March 31, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes the Government of Canada’s decision to authorize a time-limited emergency registration of strychnine for use in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

This decision reflects the severe damage Richardson’s Ground Squirrel infestations have inflicted on prairie farm operations and is a practical response to a real and urgent threat to Canadian agriculture.

GGC also acknowledges and commends the leadership of the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan, whose revised, joint emergency-use application and sustained effort in Ottawa made this outcome possible.

For years, producers across the prairies have been dealing with growing pest pressures and a severely limited set of tools to respond. Today’s authorization restores what remains the most effective option available to producers heading into the upcoming growing season.

While this emergency authorization is a meaningful step forward, it is a temporary measure. A November 2027 end date does not provide the long-term certainty that producers need to plan and invest in their operations. Canadian grain farmers require consistent, reliable access to effective pest management tools, not crisis-by-crisis emergency approvals.

Grain Growers of Canada will continue to work with governments to advance a path toward permanent access to strychnine, and to ensure Canada’s regulatory framework supports the farmers who underpin this country’s food security.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):

As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Hana Sabah
Sr. Communications Manager
Grain Growers of Canada
hana@graingrowers.ca | 514-834-8841