Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) agreement, the Federal and Provincial governments have committed to invest $3.15 million in the Pest Biosecurity Program for the remainder of CAP to March 31, 2023. SARM will continue to deliver this program and administer a network of Plant Health Officers (PHO) across the province along with three rebate programs based on a 50:50 cost-share, one each focused on invasive plant control, rat control and nuisance beaver control.
SARM administers the rat control program to provide financial assistance to rural municipalities (RMs) and First Nations Bands (FNBs) south of the Northern Administrative District. The cost-share rebate program is designed to achieve maximum results and accountability, while keeping administrative requirements for RMs and FNBs to a minimum. The rat control program will provide cost-share rebates in the amount of $1.2 million for this program year (April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022).
The program will provide up to a 50:50 cost-share payment to RMs and FNBs that are active in their rat control efforts and who follow the minimum level of service determined by the CAP-RCP. December 31, 2021 is the deadline to claim under the 2021-22 CAP-RCP.
The program will provide rebates to eligible RMs and FNBs to cover up to 50 per cent of reported rat control expenses to a maximum potential grant amount pro-rated by a factor of total value of all valid claims by totals funds available.
CAP-RCP Tools
Resources Available
Rat Control Technical Advisors - SARM has contracted the services of two Rat Control Technical Advisors, one focused in the northern three SARM Divisions (4, 5 and 6) and another in the southern three Divisions (1, 2 and 3). These roles will continue to support the Rat Control Program by providing ongoing mentoring and technical guidance to new and existing appointed PCOs and licensed pesticide applicators in the field on a case by case basis. In addition to providing ongoing technical guidance to new and existing PCOs and pesticide applicators in the field, the Rat Control Technical Advisors will play an important role alongside the Plant Health Officers to develop and deliver training and educational opportunities for PCOs each year.
For rat control technical assistance, please contact the Rat Control Technical Advisor for your SARM Division:
Grant Peeling, Division 1,2 & 3
gpeeling@sasktel.net or 306-631-7141
Colette Melnychuk, Divisions 4, 5 & 6
melnychuk@sasktel.net or 306-269-7067
Form Resources for download:
- Rat Infestation Reports
- PCO Inspection Reports
- Notice to Destroy (Template for RM use)
- PCO Sample Employment Contract
PCO forms available to order online, visit Forms and Inventory.
2022 Pest Control Officer Webinars
The SARM Plant Health Officers, the Rat Control Technical Advisors, and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture are bringing together a series of free winter webinars for Pest Control Officers in the first quarter of 2022 and are open to everyone who is interested in attending. Each webinar will be about an hour in length and held over the noon hour (12:00 to 1:00 pm).
The webinars are free of charge and registration is required. Registration deadline is 5:00 pm the day prior to each webinar. Once your registration is received for each webinar, you will be sent an email with the link to join the webinar.
January 25:
Pesticide Recertification Using CECs - Kevin Patrick P.Ag, Continuing Education Consultant/Program Head, Saskatchewan Polytechnic
SARM Rat Control Program - Pest Control Officer Forms - Grant Peeling, CAP-RCP Rat Control Technical Advisor
February 9:
Feral Pigs in Saskatchewan - James Tansey PhD, Provincial Specialist, Insect/Pest Management, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
February 24:
Dealing with Conflict and Difficult Landowners - Scott Cruickshank, Dispute Resolution Consultant, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Government of Saskatchewan
2021 Pest Control Officer Webinars
Pesticide Labels (webinar video)
Pesticide Labels (PDF)
Pesticide and the Environment (webinar video)
Pesticide and the Environment (PDF)
Ticks, the disease they carry and new measures in tick control (PDF)
PBP Contact Sheet and SARM Division Map
Contact
Annette Ellert, Programs Administrator
aellert@sarm.ca or 306-761-3744