The County of St. Paul is limiting strychnine sales this season after council heard supplies of the product are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain heading into peak gopher control season.

Council approved a temporary distribution approach during its May 12 meeting, capping purchases at six bottles per producer to stretch limited inventory across the region.

Administration told council the goal was to ensure the product remained available to as many producers as possible, rather than having the supply exhausted early by a small number of large purchases.

Strychnine has long been used by agricultural producers for Richardson ground squirrel control, particularly during spring seeding and early crop growth periods when gopher damage can significantly impact fields and pastureland.

Councillors acknowledged many producers still rely heavily on strychnine during spring gopher control season despite increasing restrictions and supply pressures in recent years.

Administration said the county is facing reduced availability of the product this year and is trying to manage distribution fairly while ensuring producers throughout the county still have access later in the season.

The discussion also highlighted broader concerns surrounding agricultural supply chains and ongoing restrictions involving regulated pest-control products.

While the county does not control manufacturing or provincial distribution, administration noted municipalities are increasingly being forced to manage shortages locally once products become available through agricultural service boards.

Council ultimately approved the temporary six-bottle limit to ensure wider access for producers across the municipality.