Wild Vegetation and Pesky Pests 

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Taber Times

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Being a farmer has always been a noble pursuit – if not a difficult one. In battling soil conditions, weather, economic fluctuations, and the many other aspects that affect yields, pests, and noxious weeds continue to be an issue.

What’s a farmer to do? 

Thankfully, farmers are not alone. The Counties, Towns, and Municipalities where they reside, along with government groups and private agencies, all work together for the best outcomes.

One such interested party is the MD of Taber. Jorden Holst, Manager of Agricultural Services, says, “The MD of Taber works actively to control noxious and prohibited noxious weeds and takes seriously any reports of pest sightings.”

Just a few of the noxious weeds in Alberta include black henbane, burdock, toadflax, and sow-thistle. Among them, a chief offender is purple loosestrife.

“All of these regulated weeds are of concern to the MD, and purple loosestrife is one we have battled for several years. Purple loosestrife can be of particular concern in our area due to its tendency to grow in drainage ditches and irrigation canals. Our staff works to control noxious and prohibited weeds through a variety of methods, including hand-pulling, cutting, mowing, and spot spraying.”

As noted by Holst, there are many ways to combat problematic vegetation. One group interested in natural ways of doing so is Farming Smarter. Their ongoing research is unveiling some interesting results.

Farming Smarter aims to be a catalyst for agricultural innovation, empowering farm-level advancements through agronomic testing, scientific expertise, and strategic connections.

“We are interested in researching best pest management practices and pest management for farmers. We look at crops and pests, among other things,” explains Michael Gretzinger.

Among its interests in the study of agricultural crops, Farming Smarter observes issues farmers have with wild oats and kochia. Wild oats, which cause yield and dockage loss, are showing an increase in herbicide resistance. Kochia, which is spreading rapidly across the province at a concerning speed, is highly adaptable to a variety of soil and weather conditions, while also showing signs of herbicide resistance.

Gretzinger notes that, “Chemical applications can be efficient, but they also cause chemical resistance. The importance of having alternative management strategies is more important now than ever before.”

Farming Smarter is hard at work on these alternative methods, developing, testing, and releasing findings.

“Strategies for managing wild oats vary widely—what works for one crop or field might not work for another,” Gretzinger describes. “Silaging off is common. That is when you cut the crop wet and use it for silage and feed. But that can create market saturation, which is also a consideration. It’s an effective, but not easy solution. Another thing to consider is the timing of weed removal. We experimented with a fall cultivation on a small crop patch we maintain. Again, a consideration is, how does this affect seed banks for the following year? The many aspects to consider are interesting and even fun – but these are not easy issues to solve.”

Farming Smarter is committed to solutions. To view their findings and research, or to support their efforts, visit https://www.farmingsmarter.com/agronomy-research.

Things that grow wild are a concern, but so are the pests that dig them up – and for farmers, few pests are more concerning than Richardson Ground Squirrels – aka, gophers.

How can something so cute be so dangerous? 

Well, it’s because they eat and they dig – voraciously. Gophers treat crops as a private banquet, feasting on seeds, roots, and plants at a rate that drives yields down. Additionally, their burrows pose a danger for people, livestock, and even farming equipment.

One of the most effective ways to control gopher populations and protect crops has been through the use of strychnine. However, this method is highly controversial.

Since 1928, farmers in the Canadian Prairies have depended on a 2 per cent strychnine solution to keep gopher populations low. Concerns about its impact on non-target species led to its first deregistration in 1992, with emergency use registrations allowing limited access between 1992 and 2020. During this time, research efforts from 2007 to 2019 focused on developing alternative solutions. In 2020, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) announced the full deregistration of strychnine, initiating a three-year phase-out period. As of March 7, 2024, all strychnine products, including those for predator control, were deregistered.

As with many issues that pit the prarie provinces against federal interests, some, including Premier Danielle Smith; Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson; and Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, Joseph Schow, felt that the decision to ban strychnine was government overreach.

Minister Sigurdson was one of the signatories on a letter to the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Under the letter, which Sigurdson posted on X, he commented, “Despite the escalating destruction, producers are being forced to fight this plague without their most effective tool: 2 per cent liquid strychnine. The federal ban on its sale and use, made without consultation or solid science, has left producers without viable alternatives. Labour-intensive, costly, and less effective methods are failing. The result? Alberta alone is facing over $800 million in annual risk to hay and native pasture. This isn’t just a rural issue — it’s a national food security issue. Without immediate federal action, we’re staring down widespread crop failure in 2026 and a serious hit to Canada’s food supply chain. We are calling on the federal government to reverse the PMRA’s decision now — before the damage becomes irreversible. Farmers and ranchers have waited long enough. Ottawa must act.”

The gopher problem and how to control is ongoing, but locals can provide input to support the decisions that are continuing to be made. Share your experience by filling out the Agricultural Service Boards’ 2025 Gopher Survey (https://agriculturalserviceboards.com/2025-gopher-survey/).

Agriculture is the world’s oldest industry. Since the time it was done with hand tools to now, the era of million-dollar combines and automation, the natural world and its creatures have always fought back. It’s a tale as old as time and a story that continues to evolve.

Thankfully, wherever you fall on the spectrum of how to deal with pesky pests, there is a forum, an organization, a way to have a say, and a way to support your interests. In the end, everyone wants the same thing – an effective solution to it all.