Pesticide Usage in Scotland: Rodenticides on Arable Farms 2024
This report presents survey results of rodenticide use on arable farms in Scotland in 2024. Almost 46 tonnes of rodenticides were applied on an estimated 39% of all arable farms in 2024. Rodenticide use in 2024 shows a significant downward trend compared to the previous ten years.
Appendix 2: Survey statistics
Sample information and census data
| Group size (ha) | 0.01 to 19.99 | 20.00 to 49.99 | 50.00 to 149.99 | 100.00 to 149.99 | 150.00+ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H&I and C&O | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Moray Firth | 1 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 33 |
| Aberdeen | 3 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 16 | 50 |
| Angus | 1 | 7 | 14 | 11 | 29 | 62 |
| East Fife & Lothian | 1 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 42 |
| Central Lowlands | 1 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 29 |
| TV, SU & Solway | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 44 |
| Scotland | 16 | 41 | 67 | 50 | 98 | 272 |
| Region/Group size (ha) | 0.01 to 19.99 | 20.00 to 49.99 | 50.00 to 149.99 | 100.00 to 149.99 | 150.00+ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H&I and C&O | 1518 | 137 | 51 | 14 | 12 | 1732 |
| Moray Firth | 368 | 219 | 170 | 80 | 84 | 921 |
| Aberdeen | 877 | 521 | 389 | 161 | 181 | 2129 |
| Angus | 310 | 286 | 270 | 153 | 185 | 1204 |
| East Fife & Lothian | 244 | 168 | 216 | 134 | 167 | 929 |
| Central Lowlands | 539 | 300 | 187 | 59 | 69 | 1154 |
| TV, SU & Solway | 457 | 296 | 167 | 105 | 160 | 1185 |
| Scotland | 4313 | 1927 | 1450 | 706 | 858 | 9254 |
H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney, TV=Tweed Valley, SU=Southern Uplands
Raising Factors
| Region/Group size (ha) | 0.01 to 19.99 | 20.00 to 49.99 | 50.00 to 149.99 | 100.00 to 149.99 | 150+ | Adjustment factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H&I and C&O | 255.06 | 34.53 | 51.42 | NA | 12.10 | 1.0008 |
| Moray Firth | 368.00 | 43.80 | 18.89 | 16.00 | 6.46 | 1 |
| Aberdeen | 292.33 | 52.10 | 29.92 | 20.13 | 11.31 | 1 |
| Angus | 310.00 | 40.86 | 19.29 | 13.91 | 6.38 | 1 |
| East Fife & Lothian | 244.00 | 42.00 | 16.62 | 12.18 | 12.85 | 1 |
| Central Lowlands | 539.00 | 60.00 | 20.78 | 11.80 | 7.67 | 1 |
| TV, SU & Solway | 152.33 | 49.33 | 20.88 | 10.50 | 9.41 | 1 |
Note: The sampled data within a region and size group were multiplied by the appropriate raising and adjustment factors to create an estimate of national use (please refer to Appendix 4 for description of statistical estimation process). For example, a total recorded rodenticide use of 10 kg on 100-149.99 ha sized farms in Aberdeen would be multiplied by 20.13 (raising factor) and 1.00 (adjustment factor) to give an estimated rodenticide use in that region and size group of 201.3 kg. NA = not applicable. H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney, TV=Tweed Valley, SU=Southern Uplands
Survey Response Rate
| Response rate | 2024 | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|
| Target sample | 300 | 100 |
| Total farms responded | 272 | 91 |
| Total responses missing rodenticide data (a) | 50 | 18 |
| Total number of farms approached | 510 | n/a |
| Total number of refusals/non-contacted | 238 | n/a |
(a) 272 responses were received from farmers. However, rodenticide information for 50 (18%) of these holdings was not received from the contractors who applied them.
Financial burden to survey respondents
In order to minimise the burden on farmers the survey team used non-visit methods of collection such as email, post or telephone call, where possible.
To determine the total burden that the 2024 rodenticide use on arable farms survey placed on those providing the information, farmers were asked to estimate the time spent providing data. All of the farmers surveyed provided this information. The median time taken was two minutes. In addition, PCPs were also asked to estimate how long they took to provide information. Approximately two thirds (69%) of the PCPs supplying data provided this information. The median time taken was 60 minutes.
The following formula was used to estimate the total cost of participating:
Burden (£) = No. surveyed x median time taken (hours) x typical hourly rate*
(* using median “Full Time Gross” hourly pay for Scotland of £19.26) (12).
It is estimated that the total financial burden to respondents for the 2024 arable crop rodenticide survey was £482.78.
Contact
Email: wildlifeunit@sasa.gov.scot