Shaynee Modien
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Shaunavon Standard
With the advancement of new technology, drones have undergone significant development, particularly in the realm of crop spraying.
Recent changes to the Pest Control Act 2025, implemented in January 2026 by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, now permit the use of drones for pesticide applications. These changes also include improvements in compliance measures for commercial operators.
“By introducing a licence category for drone spraying and enhancing compliance measures, we are
helping commercial applicators adopt new technologies,” Agriculture Minister David Marit stated.
The recent amendments to the Pest Control Act include:
- A new licence category for remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPAS, commonly known as drones), allowing licensed commercial applicators to apply pest control products using RPAS, provided the product is federally registered for this use.
- One-year licence terms for all commercial pesticide licence types, supporting consistency and improved compliance.
- Insurance requirements to ensure that those offering RPAS application services carry adequate coverage for pesticide drift liability.
- Compliance and record-keeping measures to ensure that global positioning system (GPS) records for pesticide application flights are maintained.
To comply with these changes, commercial pesticide applicators across the province will require a pesticide applicator licence, which includes mandatory training and ties in with the RPAS (drone) Pesticide
Applicator course. The earliest date for the Saskatchewan Polytechnic course is scheduled for early 2026.
However, agricultural producers are exempt from this licence and course when applying pesticides on their own land. Producers must still follow federal pesticide regulatory requirements, including product label
restrictions, with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency responsible for pesticide product registration in Canada.
While there is no specific timeline for the registration of new pest control products, seven pest control products have been approved for drone application, with only one fungicide approved.
