<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000708484</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALCIDE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALCD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RICHARDS JOHN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8561 154TH AVENUE NE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98052</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
        <officerTitle>President, CFO</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option Plan</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>12.85</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-28</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>4000</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-07-28</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-07-28</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>4000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>62000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>
<remarks>Option to purchase 4,000 shares of Common Stock was granted pursuant to Alcide Corporation's 2001 Stock Option Plan  The option is exercisable as follows:  800 shares on 7/28/04, 800 shares on 7/28/05, 800 shares on 7/28/06, 800 shares on 7/28/07, 800 shares on 7/28/08.  The option expires on July 28, 2013.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John P. Richards</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

