Pesticide usage in Scotland: Arable Crops and Potato Stores 2024

Potato Stores 2024

Key Points

• Overall, the proportion of stored seed and ware potatoes treated with a pesticide was similar to that reported in the previous survey in 2022. Despite a difficult growing season in 2024, tuber quality in store was good.
• The estimated quantity of potatoes stored in Scotland in 2024 was approximately 948,100 tonnes. This is similar to 2022 and 4% less than 2020.
• The estimated quantity of ware potatoes stored was approximately 634,900 tonnes representing a 3% increase from 2022 and a 6% increase from 2020. The quantity of seed potatoes stored in 2024 was estimated to be approximately 313,200 tonnes, a reduction of 6% from 2022 and 20% since 2020.
• Over half (58%) of seed and 88% of ware potatoes sampled in 2024 were kept in refrigerated stores. The remainder were kept in ambient ventilated stores. All the potatoes surveyed in Scotland were stored in boxes.
• The proportion of seed potatoes treated with a pesticide in 2024 was 26%. This is similar to the 25% treated in 2022 but lower than the proportion treated in 2020 (39%).
• The proportion of stored ware potatoes treated with a pesticide in 2024 was 9%, similar to the 8% treated in 2022 and the 6% treated in 2020.
• The pesticides encountered on seed potatoes were the fungicides imazalil and thiabendazole applied at to an estimated 26% and 3% respectively. Imazalil was also the principal pesticide encountered on seed potatoes in 2022.
• The principal pesticide used on ware potatoes in 2024 continued to be the growth regulator ethylene applied to an estimated 6% of the stored ware crop, compared with 4% in both 2022 and 2020.
• Other active substances applied to stored ware crops in 2024 included the sprout suppressants, 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene and spearmint oil (applied to approximately 2% and 1% of the stored ware potato crop respectively). As in 2022, less than 0.5% of the stored ware crop was treated with a fungicide.