Pesticide usage in Scotland: Arable Crops and Potato Stores 2024

2024 Pesticide usage

Winter barley

• An estimated 42,874 hectares of winter barley were gown in Scotland in 2024, a 3% decrease since 2022
• 100% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 453,785 treated hectares with 125,771 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• Winter barley received on average 3.7 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 2.3 herbicides/desiccants, 2.2 fungicides, 1.7 growth regulators and 1.0 insecticide (applied to 96%, 100%, 94% and 20% of the crop area respectively)
• The majority of fungicides and sulphur were applied in May and growth regulators in April. Insecticides were predominantly applied in October 2023 and molluscicides in September 2023. The majority of herbicides were applied in September 2023 and April 2024 (Figure 12)
• Reasons for fungicide application were specified for 42% of total use, 12% for disease control, 11% for rhyncosporium, 6% each for net blotch and mildew. Ten other reasons accounted for less than 8% in total
• Reasons were supplied for 50% of herbicide/desiccant use, 13% for annual broad leaf weeds, 12% for general weed control, 9% as a desiccation/harvest aid, 7% for annual meadow grass and 4% for wild oats. Thirteen other reasons accounted for 5% in total
• Reasons for insecticide use were provided for 56% of total use, 46% for aphids and 10% for barley yellow dwarf virus
• The most common varieties encountered were KWS Tardis and LG Caravella (28% and 12% respectively)
• The average reported yield was 7.4 t/ha

Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. For details of all pesticide use on winter barley, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 11 footnote: Molluscicides have been excluded from this figure as they represent < 0.5% of the total area treated.

Spring barley

• An estimated 257,507 hectares of spring barley were grown in Scotland in 2024, representing a increase of 9% since 2022
• 98% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 1,869,607 treated hectares with 348,315 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• The spring barley crop received on average 2.6 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 1.8 fungicides, 1.8 herbicides/desiccants and 1.3 growth regulators (applied to 97%, 97% and 40% of the crop area respectively)
• The majority of fungicides, growth regulators, insecticides and sulphur were applied in June. Herbicides were predominantly applied in May (Figure 14)
• Reasons for fungicide application were supplied for 45% of total use, 27% for disease control, 5% for rhyncosporium, 3% each for mildew, ramularia and disease precaution. Six other reasons accounted for 5% in total
• Reasons were supplied for 61% of herbicide/desiccant use, 18% each for annual broad leaf weeds and for general weed control, 7% as a desiccation/harvest aid, 6% for wild oats, 4% for chickweed and 2% for annual meadow grass. Twenty-two other reasons accounted for 5% in total
• Reasons for insecticide use were provided for 61% of total use, 52% for aphids, 5% for leaf miner and 4% for cereal leaf beetle
• The most common varieties encountered were Laureate and LG Diablo (63% and 14% respectively)
• The average reported yield was 6.8 t/ha

Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. For details of all pesticide use on spring barley, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 13 footnote: Insecticides and sulphur excluded as they represent < 1% of the total area treated.

Figure 14 footnote: In August 2023 through March 2024, the use of herbicides were < 1% in each month and have been excluded from this figure.

Winter wheat

• An estimated 97,329 hectares of winter wheat were grown in Scotland in 2022, a decrease of 8% since 2022
• 99% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 1,370,027 treated hectares with 354,741 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• Winter wheat received on average 5.0 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 3.3 fungicides, 2.4 herbicides/desiccants, 2.0 growth regulators, 1.2 insecticides and 1.1 molluscicides (applied to 99%, 98%, 94%, 18% and 11% of the crop area respectively)
• The majority of fungicides and growth regulators were applied in May and herbicides in April. Insecticides were predominantly applied in October and June, molluscicides in October and sulphur in June (Figure 16)
• Reasons for fungicide application were specified for 46% of total use, 14% for septoria, 8% each for rust and general disease control, 4% fusarium, 3% yellow rust and 2% each for eyespot, mildew and ear diseases. Eleven other reasons accounted for 3% in total
• Reasons were supplied for 57% of herbicide/desiccant use, 15% for annual broad leaf weeds, 10% for general weed control, 8% for annual meadow grass, 5% as a desiccation/harvest aid, 4% for brome, 3% each for cleavers and annual grass weeds and 2% for wild oats. Twenty other reasons accounted for 8% in total
• Reasons for insecticide use were provided for 69% of total use, 57% for aphids and 12% for barley yellow dwarf virus
• The most common varieties encountered were LG Skyscraper and KWS Dawsum (32% and 13% respectively)
• The average reported yield was 8.5 t/ha

Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. For details of all pesticide use on winter wheat, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 15 footnote: Mollusicides and sulphur have been excluded from this figure as they represent < 1% of the total area treated.

Winter oats

• An estimated 8,076 hectares of winter oats were gown in Scotland in 2024, a decrease of 4% since 2022
• 100% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 71,187 treated hectares with 15,259 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• Winter oats received on average 3.6 pesticide sprays (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 2.3 fungicides, 1.7 herbicides/desiccants, 1.5 growth regulators, and 1.0 insecticides (applied to 100%, 93%, 100% and 18% of the crop area respectively)
• The majority of fungicides were applied in May and June, growth regulators in May, herbicides in April and insecticides in October. Insecticides were predominantly applied in October 2023 and June 2024 and molluscicides applied equally in September and October 2023 (Figure 18)
• Reasons for fungicide application were specified for 36% of total use, 9% for mildew, 5% for ear diseases, 4% general disease control, 3% each for septoria, fusarium, rust, sooty mould and crown rust. Four other reasons accounted for 3% in total
• Reasons were supplied for 50% of herbicide/desiccant use, 8% for general weed control, 6% for groundsel, 5% for cleavers, 4% for chickweed and mayweed and 3% for annual broad leaf weeds. Eight other reasons accounted for 11% in total
• Reasons for insecticide use were provided for 64% of total use, the only reason given was for aphid control
• The most common varieties encountered were Dalguise and Cromwell (39% and 13% respectively)
• The average reported yield was 7.1 t/ha

For details of all pesticide use on winter oats, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 17 footnote: Molluscicides have been excluded from this figure as they represent < 0.5% of the total area treated.

Spring oats

• An estimated 19,514 hectares of spring oats were grown in Scotland in 2024, an increase of 4% since 2022
• 83% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 110,596 treated hectares with 26,351 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• Spring oats received on average 2.8 pesticide sprays (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 1.9 fungicides, 1.6 herbicides/desiccants and 1.2 for both growth regulators and insecticides (applied to 79%, 80%, 67% and 23% of the crop area respectively)
• The majority of fungicides, growth regulators and insecticides were applied in June. Herbicides were predominantly applied in May (Figure 20)
• Reasons for fungicide application were supplied for 45% of total use, 15% for mildew, 7% each for crown rust and general disease control, 6% for disease precaution, 4% for leaf spot, 3% for rust and less than 1% each for brown rust and septoria
• Reasons were supplied for 66% of herbicide/desiccant use, 17% both for annual broad leaf weeds and general weed control, 12% as a desiccation/harvest aid, 7% for chickweed, 6% for cleavers, and 2% each for fumitory and volunteer rape. Eight other reasons accounted for 4% in total
• Reasons for insecticide use were provided for 60% of total use, 51% for aphids and 9% for cereal leaf beetle
• The most common varieties were SY Canyon and Conway (54% and 21% respectively)
• The average reported yield was 6.3 t/ha

For details of all pesticide use on spring oats, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 20 footnote: Herbicides applied in October 2023 and February 2024 accounted for < 1% of the spray area and have been excluded from this figure.

Winter rye

• An estimated 6,583 hectares of winter rye were grown in Scotland in 2024, a decrease of 8% since 2022
• 100% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 47,367 treated hectares with 14,968 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• Winter rye received on average 3.8 pesticide sprays (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 1.9 growth regulators, 1.7 herbicides/desiccants, 1.6 fungicides and 1.3 molluscicides (applied to 89%,100%, 89% and 15% of the crop area respectively). No insecticide use was recorded on winter rye in 2024
• The majority of fungicides, growth regulators and herbicides were applied in April and molluscicides in September 2023 (Figure 22)
• Reasons for fungicide application were supplied for 38% of total use, 7% each for brown rust, eye spot, mildew and septoria, 4% for general disease control and 3% each for rhynchosporium and rust
• Reasons were supplied for 50% of herbicide/desiccant use, 17% for annual broad leaf weeds, 11% each for annual meadow grass and as a harvest aid, 6% for general weed control and 3% each for fumitory and as a stubble clean up
• The most common varieties encountered were SU Performer and SU Arvid (36% and 23% respectively)

For details of all pesticide use on winter rye, please refer to the supporting document.

Oilseeds

• An estimated 36,669 hectares of oilseeds (winter and spring oilseed rape) were grown in Scotland in 2024 representing an increase of 4% since 2022
• 100% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 333,250 treated hectares with 94,586 kilograms of pesticide used in total
• The oilseeds crop received on average 5.6 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 2.8 herbicides/desiccants, 2.2 fungicides, 1.6 insecticides, 1.3 applications of a combined fungicide & growth regulator, 1.1 molluscicides and 1.0 growth regulator (applied to 100%, 94%, 79%, 17%, 49% and 22% of the crop area respectively)
• The majority of fungicides and insecticides were applied in May, combined fungicide & growth regulator in March and growth regulator in April. The majority of herbicides/desiccants were applied in August 2023 (Figure 24)
• Reasons for fungicide application were supplied for 43% of total use, 16% for sclerotinia, 13% for light leaf spot, 7% for general disease control and 2% for alternaria. Seven other reasons accounted for 5% in total
• Reasons were supplied for 55% of herbicide/desiccant use, 11% for general weed control, 10% as a desiccation/harvest aid, 6% for volunteer cereals, 5% each for annual broad leaf weeds and annual meadow grass, 4% each for brome and volunteer barley and 2% each for volunteer oats and mayweed. Thirteen other reasons accounted for 6% in total
• Reasons for insecticide use were provided for 56% of total use, 16% for cabbage stem flea beetle, 10% stem weevils, 8% flea beetle, 6% for aphids, 5% for pollen beetle, 3% each for general pests and winter stem weevil and 2% for pod midge
• The most common varieties were Crome and Aurelia (26% and 16% respectively)
• The average reported yield was 3.8 t/ha

For details of all pesticide use on oilseeds, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 24 footnote: Herbicides/desiccants applied in August 2024 represent 2% of the total treated area and have been excluded from this figure.

Seed potatoes

• An estimated 12,788 hectares of seed potatoes were grown in Scotland in 2024, representing an increase of 8% since 2022
• 98% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 335,525 treated hectares with 116,036 kilograms of pesticide used in total on the crop (see summary table below)
• The seed potato crop received on average 10.7 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 8.9 fungicides, 7.2 insecticides/nematicides, 2.3 herbicides/desiccants and 1.5 molluscicides (applied to 98%, 94%, 98%, and 22% of the area respectively)
• The majority of fungicides, insecticides/nematicides and molluscicides were applied in July and herbicides/desiccants in June (Figure 26)
• Reasons for fungicide application were supplied for 38% of total use, 37% for blight and 1% for general disease control
• Reasons were supplied for 37% of herbicide/desiccant use, 18% for general weed control, 7% both as a desiccation/harvest aid and for annual meadow grass and 6% for annual broad leaf weeds
• Reasons for insecticide/nematicide use were provided for 45% of total use, 37% for aphids, 8% for general pests and less than 1% in total for control of nematodes and weevils
• The most common varieties were Cara and Maris Piper (14% and 11% respectively)
• The average reported yield was 36 t/ha

For details of all pesticide use on seed potatoes, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 26 footnote: In October 2023 the use of herbicides were < 1%. In April the use of fungicides and herbicides were < 1%. These have been excluded from this figure.

Ware potatoes

• An estimated 16,298 hectares of ware potatoes were grown in Scotland in 2024, representing an increase of 7% since 2022
• 99% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 397,580 treated hectares with 188,578 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• The ware potato crop received on average 13.5 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 10.3 fungicides, 3.0 molluscicides, 2.2 herbicides/desiccants, 1.8 insecticides/nematicides and 1.0 growth regulator (applied to 99%, 52%, 99%, 51%,12% of the crop area)
• The majority of fungicides, insecticides/nematicides and molluscicides were applied in July, growth regulators in August, and herbicides in May (Figure 28)
• Reasons for fungicide application were supplied for 29% of total use, 28% for blight and less than 1% in total for disease precaution, sclerotinia and general disease control
• Reasons were supplied for 23% of herbicide/desiccant use, 12% for general weed control, 7% as a desiccation/harvest aid and 2% for annual meadow grass. Six other reasons accounted for 1% in total
• Reasons for insecticide/nematicide use were provided for 35% of total use, 29% for aphids, 3% for general pests and 1% each for control of nematodes and wireworm
• The most common varieties grown were Maris Piper and Saxon (38% and 18% respectively)
• The average reported yield was 51.6 t/ha

For details of all pesticide use on ware potatoes, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 27 footnote: Growth regulators are excluded from this figure as they represent < 1% of the total area treated.

Figure 28 footnote: Fungicides and herbicides applied in March accounted for < 0.5% and have been excluded from this figure.

Legumes

• The legumes category includes dry harvest peas and field beans. These crops have been combined as too few holdings were encountered to report the pesticide use for each crop separately
• An estimated 3,461 hectares of legumes were grown in Scotland in 2024, representing an increase of 14% since 2022
• 78% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticides were applied to 9,803 treated hectares with 6,195 kilograms of pesticide used in total
• The legume crop received on average 2.6 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These applications included 1.7 fungicides,1.3 herbicides/desiccants and 1.0 sulphur (applied to 62%, 78% and 17% of the crop area respectively)
• The majority of fungicides were applied in June, herbicides in April and sulphur in May (Figure 30)
• Reasons for fungicide application were supplied for 17% of total use, 12% for chocolate spot, 3% for rust and 2% for general disease control
• Reasons were supplied for 58% of herbicide/desiccant use, 18% for annual broad leaf weeds, 11% for annual meadow grass, 9% for general weed control, 6% for both brome and wild oats, 5% as a desiccation/harvest aid and 3% for volunteer rape
• The most common varieties were Tundra and Vertigo (both field beans), accounting for 25% and 17% of the sample area respectively
• The average reported yield was 4.5 t/ha

Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. For details of all pesticide use on legumes, please refer to the supporting document.