The Plant Health Network guides support, education, and training on how best to manage the agricultural crop pests declared or designated under The Pest Control Act and The Weed Control Act. SARM will deliver this program and administer a network of Plant Health Technical Advisors (PHTA) across the province.

Each SARM Division employs a full-time Plant Health Technical Advisor who develop, promote and implement best practices within their division to proactively identify, monitor and assist in the control of invasive/emerging threats to plant biosecurity in agriculture with the goal of developing more comprehensive and uniform control strategies across the province. 

The PHN Program Guidelines provide detailed information on the role of PHTAs and how they can assist you. Contact the PHTA located in your SARM Division.

Plant Health Technical Advisors

Tayo Adegeye, Division 1
PHNdivision1@sarm.ca or 306-580-8708

Joanne Kwasnicki, Division 2
PHNdivision2@sarm.ca or 306-541-8437

Betty Johnson, Division 3
PHNdivision3@sarm.ca or 306-315-3925

Katey Makohoniuk, Division 4
PHNdivision4@sarm.ca or 306-594-7683

Chelsea Neuberger, Division 5
PHNdivision5@sarm.ca or 306-380-4526

Colleen Fennig, Division 6
PHNdivision6@sarm.ca or 306-946-9895

Resources

Events

2024 Leafy Spurge Beetle Collection Days

When: Tentatively scheduled for July 2-5, 2024

Where: Besant Campground (west of Caronport on Highway #1)

What: Leafy spurge beetles are insects that feed on leafy spurge, acting as a biological control agent for the noxious weed. The SARM Plant Health Technical Advisors (PHTAs) will be present to provide information and assist in packaging leafy spurge beetles for landowners, RMs, and First Nations to take back to their property for release.

Bring: A cooler and ice packs for transporting beetles, sweep nets (extra nets will be available), water, lunch, and long pants (poison ivy and ticks are found in the area).

Cost: Free to attend

*Dates are subject to change based on beetle emergence and weather. Contact your PHTA prior to travelling to ensure the event dates have not changed.

Click here for more information.

2024 Weed Inspector and Land Manager Workshops 

SARM Plant Health Technical Advisors, through the Pest Biosecurity Program, hosted various in-person workshops open to Weed Inspectors, FN Land Managers and pesticide applicators.

If you would like more information about presenters or topics covered, please reach out to the Plant Health Technical Advisor in your SARM division.

April 2 & 3 – Integrated Weed Management, Mapping and WI Experiences

Highlights of the two, one-day workshops included presentations on biocontrol, herbicide resistance, iMapInvasives, and the Sustainable CAP Invasive Plant Control Program. Each day wrapped up with roundtable discussions led by an experienced Weed Inspector on the challenges facing Weed Inspectors and Land Managers today. 

May 22 & 23 – Sprayer Calibration Clinics

Weed Inspectors and pesticide applicators attended one of two, one-day workshops where they learned how to calibrate small sprayers, properly tank mix herbicides, clean out sprayers, and the importance and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

2024 Weed Inspector and Land Manager Webinar
January 31, 2024:
Noxious and Prohibited Weeds: Plant families and identification  (Webinar Video)
Noxious and Prohibited Weeds: Plant families and identification  (PDF)
Noxious and Prohibited Weeds: Plant families and identification (CEC Quiz)

Navigating Conflict Workshops for Appointed Officials

SARM, through the Pest Biosecurity Program, hosted four one-day Navigating Conflict workshops in January and February 2023 open to appointed officials (FN Land Managers, Pest Control Officers, and Weed Inspectors). They were facilitated by the Dispute Resolution Office, Ministry of Justice. These interactive workshops introduced concepts and skills about managing a contentious situation and having difficult discussions.

2023 Weed Inspector and Land Manager Webinar

January 10, 2023:

The Weed Control Act – Proposed Changes to Regulated Weeds  (Webinar Video)
The Weed Control Act – Proposed Changes to Regulated Weeds  (PDF)
The Weed Control Act – Proposed Changes to Regulated Weeds  (CEC Quiz)

May 25, 2023:

iMapInvasives: An Overview (Webinar Video)
iMapInvasives: An Overview (PDF)

January 19:

Herbicides for Invasive Weed Management (webinar video)
Herbicides for Invasive Weed Management (PDF)
Herbicides for Invasive Weed Management (CEC Quiz)

February 16:

Weeds to Watch For & Invasive Plant Look-alikes (webinar video)
Weeds to Watch For & Common Look-alikes (PDF)
Weeds to Watch For & Common Look-alikes (CEC Quiz)

March 23:

Biocontrol of Invasive Weed Management (Webinar video)
Invasive Plant Biocontrol – How It Works (PDF)
Biocontrol in SK (PDF)
Biocontrol of Invasive Weed Management (CEC Quiz)

Weed Inspector 101 (webinar video)
Weed Management Plans (PDF)

Field Work 101 (webinar video)
iMapInvasive Tutorial (PDF)
Set up Email Alerts for iMapInvasive (PDF)
Field Skills & Tools (PDF)

Common Issues & FAQs for Weed Inspectors & Land Managers (webinar video)
Common Weed Inspector Questions (PDF)
The Weed Control Act – Application to Organics (PDF)

Weed Identification 101 (webinar video)
Weed Identification (PDF)

The Weed Control Act Enforcement Process (webinar video)
The Weed Control Act Enforcement Process (PDF)

2024 Pest Control Officer Workshops 

SARM Plant Health Technical Advisors, through the Pest Biosecurity Program, hosted two, one-day workshops open to Pest Control Officers, FN Land Mangers, Administrators and councillors.  

Health Canada, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Saskatchewan Polytechnic representatives promoted understanding of topics that included pest control product compliance, regulations and storage, the role of the RM appointed Pest Control Officer, as well as education, training and licencing requirements for pesticide applicators. 

If you would like more information about our presenters or the topics covered, please reach out to the Plant Health Technical Advisor in your SARM division.

2024 Pest Control Officer Webinar 

February 9, 2024: 

Pesticide Education Program – Applicator Training and Recertification (webinar video)
Pesticide Education Program – Applicator Training and Recertification (PDF)
Pesticide Education Program – Applicator Training and Recertification (CEC Quiz)

Navigating Conflict Workshops for Appointed Officials

SARM, through the Pest Biosecurity Program, hosted four one-day Navigating Conflict workshops in January and February 2023 open to appointed officials (FN Land Managers, Pest Control Officers, and Weed Inspectors). They were facilitated by the Dispute Resolution Office, Ministry of Justice. These interactive workshops introduced concepts and skills about managing a contentious situation and having difficult discussions.

2023 Pest Control Officer Webinar

February 13, 2023:

Strychnine Alternatives for Richardson's Ground Squirrel Control (webinar video)
Strychnine Alternatives for Richardson's Ground Squirrel Control (PDF)
Strychnine Alternatives for Richardson's Ground Squirrel Control Squirrel (CEC Quiz)

January 25:

Pesticide Recertification Using CECs & CAP-RCP Pest Control Officer Forms (webinar video)
Pesticide Recertification Using CECs (PDF)
CAP-RCP Pest Control Officer Forms (PDF)
Pesticide Recertification Using CECs & CAP-RCP Pest Control Officer Forms (CEC Quiz)

February 9:

Feral Pigs in Saskatchewan (webinar video)
Feral Pigs in Saskatchewan (PDF)
Feral Pigs in Saskatchewan (CEC Quiz)

February 24:
Dealing with Conflict and Difficult Landowners (webinar video)
Dealing with Conflict and Difficult Landowners (PDF)
Dealing with Conflict and Difficult Landowners (CEC Quiz)

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)

Contact

Annette Ellert, Agriculture Program Administrator
aellert@sarm.ca or 306-761-3744