Pesticide usage in Scotland: Soft Fruit Crops 2024

2024 Pesticide usage

All strawberries (protected and non-protected crops)

• An estimated 1,059 hectares of strawberries were grown in Scotland in 2024 a 14% decrease since 2022. This consists of 35 ha of non-protected crop and 1,023 ha of protected crop
• 97% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 24,458 treated hectares with 20,879 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• Strawberry crops received on average 20.4 applications (supporting document Table 1). These included 12.4 biological applications, 9.1 fungicide applications and 2.9 insecticide applications (applied to 79, 95 and 70% of the crop area respectively). They also received on average 2.6 physical control, and 1.0 molluscicide applications (applied to 21 and 31% respectively)
• The majority of herbicide applications took place in March. Fungicides and insecticides were predominately applied throughout April and May, and biologicals were applied predominantly throughout June, July and August (Figure 10)
• Reasons for fungicide use were supplied for 73% of total use; 34% for control of botrytis, 27% for control of powdery mildew, 8% for control of mildew and 1% each for control of crown rot and red core. Two other reasons for fungicide use were recorded at below 1%
• Reasons for herbicide use were supplied for 28% of total use; slightly less than 14% each for annual grass weeds and general weed control and less than 1% for crop destruction
• Reasons were supplied for 72 per cent of insecticide use; 26% for spider mites, 25% for aphids, 4% for blossom weevil, 5% for two-spotted spider mite, 3% each for whitefly and spotted wing drosophila and 2% each for caterpillars, two-spotted spider mites and flower thrips. Four other reasons accounted for less than 1% each
• Reasons for the use of biological control agents were supplied for 50% of use; 22% was for control of thrips, 9% each for aphids and vine weevil, 3% each for control of botrytis, two-spotted spider mite and spider mite and 2% for powdery mildew. Tarsonemid mite accounted for less than 1%
• Reasons for the use of biopesticides were supplied for 81% of use; 41% for the control of powdery mildew, 30% for botrytis, 6% for caterpillars and 5% for mildew. Two other reasons accounted for less than 1% in total
• Reasons for physical control were provided for 42% of total use; 37% was for control of aphids and 4% whitefly. Three other reasons accounted for less than 1% in total
• 7% of strawberries encountered in the sample were under one year old, 79% were between one and two years old, 5% were over two years old with the remainder unknown
• 92% of the crop sampled was grown in a raised or tabletop system, 79% of the crop sampled was grown in bags, 8% was grown in soil, 3% was grown in pots, less than 1% in troughs, with the remainder unknown
• 58% of the crop sampled was grown using a ground mulch or straw
• 99% of the crop sampled was grown under protection, of this 53% was in permanent tunnels and 46% was in temporary tunnels
• Pollinators were used on 99% of the strawberry crop sampled. Of the area using pollinators, 29% used bumble bees, 1% used honey bees and 69% used both bumble bees and honey bees
• Nearly all of the strawberry crops surveyed were harvested in 2024. 98% of strawberries that were harvested were for fresh market, 2% for pick-your-own and less than 1% for processing
• The most common varieties encountered were Malling Centenary, Favori, Magnum and Murano (accounting for 23, 12, 12 and 10% of the sample area respectively)

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

Figure 9 footnote: Insecticides/acaricides have been excluded as their use represents < 0.5% of the total area treated.

Figure 10 footnote: Areas included multi-cropping. Fungicide use was < 1% in September 2023, January, and December, insecticides/acaricides use was < 1% in September and December 2023, herbicide use was < 4% in December 2023 and biologicals < 1% in December 2024 and have been excluded from the figure.

Non-protected strawberries

• An estimated 35 hectares of non-protected strawberry were grown in Scotland in 2024. This included an estimated six hectares recorded in the mixed and other soft fruit category of the census
• 26% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 125 treated hectares with 57 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• Non-protected strawberry crops received on average 8.0 applications (supporting document Table 1). These included 5.1 fungicide applications, 2.9 herbicide/desiccant and 2.0 insecticide applications (applied to 26, 26 and 16% of the crop area respectively)
• Fungicides were predominantly applied in June, the majority of insecticides were applied in September and herbicides in December, March, April and May (Figure 12)
• The most common varieties encountered were, Symphony and Eros accounting for 59 and 15% of the sample area respectively

Table B footnote: For details of all pesticide use on non-protected strawberries, please refer to the supporting document.

Protected strawberries

• An estimated 1,023 hectares of protected strawberries were grown in Scotland in 2024, including 54 hectares of multi-cropping
• Based on the ratio encountered in the sample, it is estimated that 45% of the crop was semi-protected (grown under temporary tunnels) and 55% permanently protected (grown in permanent tunnels or glasshouses)
• 99% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 26,923 treated hectares with 20,822 kilograms of pesticides applied in total
• Protected strawberry crops received on average 20.5 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These included 12.4 biological applications, 9.2 fungicide applications, 2.9 insecticide applications, 2.6 physical control applications and 1.0 molluscicide applications (applied to 81, 97, 72, 22, and 32% of the crop respectively)
• Fungicides and insecticides were predominantly applied in April and May, the majority of biologicals were applied in June and July, physical control agents in July and August and herbicides in March and April (Figure 14)
• The most common varieties encountered were Malling Centenary, Favori and Magnum accounting for 23, 13 and 12% of the sample area respectively

Table C footnote: Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. Invertebrate biological control agents are applied by number of organisms rather than weight therefore weight data are not presented. For details of all pesticide use on protected strawberries, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 14 footnote: Areas include multi-cropping. In January 2024, fungicide use was < 1%. In December 2024, the use of fungicides and biological control agents were < 1% and have been excluded from this figure.

All raspberries (protected and non-protected crops)

• An estimated 260 hectares of raspberries were grown in Scotland in 2024. This consisted of 201 hectares of protected crops and 59 hectares of non-protected crops
• 68% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 1,805 treated hectares with 797 kilograms of pesticides applied in total
• The 68% of raspberry crop treated with a pesticide received on average 7.7 pesticide sprays (see supporting document Table 1). These included 5.2 biological applications, 4.4 fungicide applications, 2.0 physical control applications, 2.3 insecticide applications and 1.0 herbicide/desiccant applications (applied to 28, 63, 19, 55 and 20% of the crop respectively).
• Reasons for fungicide applications were supplied for 62% of total use; 43% was for control of botrytis, 8% for powdery mildew, 7% for phytophthora root rot, 2% for cane blight and 1% for rust
• Reasons for herbicide applications on raspberries were supplied for 3% of use with all being for general weed control
• Reasons were supplied for 56% of insecticide use; 39% was for aphid control, 7% for caterpillars, 4% raspberry cane midge, 3% sawfly and 2% capsids. Three other reasons accounted for less than one per cent in total
• Reasons for use of biological control agents were supplied for 86% of total use; 38% was for control of spider mite, 26% for vine weevil, 19% for aphids and 2% for slugs. Two other reasons accounted for less than 1% in total
• Reasons for the use of biopesticides were supplied for 81% of use; 34% each for the control of botrytis and powdery mildew, 7% for Phytopthora root rot and 6% for caterpillars
• Reasons for use of physical control agents were provided for 43% of total use; 18% was for control of spider mite, 8% each for aphids, whitefly and thrips, and two-spotted spider mite for less than 1%
• 4% of the raspberries encountered in the sample were under two years old, 52% were between two and five years old and 12% were over five years old. The age of the remainder was unknown
• 21% of the crop sampled was grown in a raised system, 82% of the crop sampled was grown in pots, 18% was grown directly in the soil and less than 1% was grown in bags
• 49% of the crop encountered was grown using a ground mulch
• 18% of the raspberry crop sampled was grown outdoors, 39% were in temporary tunnels and 43% was grown under permanent tunnels
• Pollinators were used on 83% of the raspberry crops surveyed. Of the sample area using pollinators, 60% were bumble bees, 1% were honey bees and 22% used both bumble bees and honey bees
• 95% of the raspberry crops surveyed were harvested in 2024. 87% of the raspberries harvested were for fresh market, 12% for processing and 1% for pick-your-own
• The most common variety encountered was Glen Ample accounting for 50% of the sample area

Table D footnote: Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. Invertebrate biological control agents are applied by number of organisms rather than weight therefore weight data are not presented. For details of all pesticide use on all raspberries, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 15 footnote: Sulphur and molluscicides have been excluded as their use represents < 1% of the total area treated.

Figure 16 footnote: In November insecticide use was < 1% and has been excluded from this figure.

Non-protected raspberries

• An estimated 59 hectares of non-protected raspberries were grown in Scotland in 2024. This included an estimated one hectare recorded in the mixed and other soft fruit category of the census
• 81% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 172 treated hectares with 64 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• Non-protected raspberry crops received on average 2.6 applications (supporting document Table 1). These included 2.6 fungicide applications and 1.0 insecticide applications (applied to 69 and 26% of the crop respectively)
• Fungicides were predominantly applied in July and insecticides in September, biologicals were applied in April and September, and herbicides in January and February (Figure 18)
• The most common variety encountered was Glen Ample accounting for 90% of the sample area

Table E footnote: Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. Invertebrate biological control agents are applied by number of organisms rather than weight therefore weight data are not presented. For details of all pesticide use on non-protected raspberries, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 17 footnote: Molluscicides have been excluded as their use represents < 1 % of the total area treated.

Protected raspberries

• An estimated 201 hectares of protected raspberries were grown in Scotland in 2024
• Based on the ratio encountered in the sample, it is estimated that 34% of the crop was semi-protected (grown under temporary tunnels) and 66% permanently protected (grown in permanent tunnels or glasshouses)
• 64% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 1,632 treated hectares with 733 kilograms of pesticides applied in total
• Protected raspberry crops received on average 9.6 pesticide applications (supporting document Table 1). These included 5.3 biological applications, 5.0 fungicide applications, 2.4 insecticide applications, 2.0 physical control applications, and 1.0 herbicide/desiccant applications (applied to 36, 62, 64, 24 and 24% of the crop respectively)
• Fungicides and insecticides were predominantly applied in April, May and June, the majority of biologicals were applied in June and July, physical control agents in June and herbicides in October (Figure 20)
• The most common variety encountered was Glen Ample accounting for 41% of the sample area

Table F footnote: Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. Invertebrate biological control agents are applied by number of organisms rather than weight therefore weight data are not presented. For details of all pesticide use on protected raspberries, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 19 footnote: Sulphur has been excluded as its use represents < 1% of the total area treated.

Figure 20 footnote: In January fungicide use was < 1%. In November fungicide and insecticide/acaricide use were < 1% and have been excluded from this figure.

Blackcurrants

• The total estimated area of blackcurrants grown in Scotland in 2024 was 429 hectares (all non-protected). This includes 64 hectares of non-protected blackcurrants which were included in the mixed and other soft fruit census category. Please note 0.1 hectares of protected blackcurrants were included in the mixed and other soft fruit census category and have been combined with protected other soft fruit for reporting purposes
• 96% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 6,111 treated hectares with 3,906 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• The blackcurrant crop treated with a pesticide received on average 8.1 pesticide applications (see supporting document Table 1). These included 4.9 fungicide applications, 3.7 insecticide applications and 1.4 herbicide/desiccant applications (each applied to 95% of the crop)
• Fungicides and insecticides were predominantly applied in April, May and June, biologicals were applied in April and September and the majority of herbicides were applied in February and March (Figure 22)
• Reasons for fungicide use were supplied for 77% of total use; 48% for control of botrytis, 13% each for leaf spot and mildew and 3% for powdery mildew. Reasons for sulphur use was supplied for 49% of use, all for the control of big bud mite
• Reasons for herbicide use were supplied for 43% of total use; all use was for general weed control
• Reasons were supplied for 82% of insecticide use; 27% for the control of aphids, 20% for sawfly, 19% for gall mites and 16% for caterpillar control
• 33% of blackcurrants encountered were five years old or less, less than 1% were between six and 10 years old, less than 1% were older than 10 years with the remainder 66% of an unknown age
• All blackcurrant crops sampled were grown in soil without protection
• 99% of the blackcurrant crops surveyed were harvested in 2024
• 99% of the blackcurrant crops harvested were for processing and less than 1% for fresh market and pick-your-own
• The most common varieties encountered was Ben Starav and Ben Klibreck accounting for 23 and 13% of the sample area

Table G footnote: Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. Invertebrate biological control agents are applied by number of organisms rather than weight therefore weight data are not presented. For details of all pesticide use on blackcurrants, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 21 footnote: Molluscicides and physical control agents have been excluded as their use represents < 1% of the total area treated.

Figure 22 footnote: In September 2023 fungicide and insecticide/acaricide use were < 1% and have been excluded from this figure.

All other soft fruit crops (protected and non-protected crops)

• An estimated 335 hectares of other soft fruit was grown in Scotland in 2024. This consisted of 92 hectares of non-protected crop and 243 hectares of protected crop
• The crops encountered in this category were blueberry, blackberry, gooseberry, honeyberry and redcurrant as well as minor crops; chokeberry, elderberry, jostaberry, loganberry, saskatoon berry, tayberry, whitecurrant and worcesterberry. Protected blackcurrants were also included in the other soft fruit category due to being recorded in other fruit on the census
• 76% of the other soft fruit crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 3,364 treated hectares with 1,196 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• The area of the crop treated with a pesticide received on average 12.2 pesticide applications (see supporting document Table 1). These included 7.7 biological applications, 3.2 fungicide applications, 1.7 insecticide applications and 3.6 physical control applications, (applied to 67, 73, 49 and 10% of the crop respectively)
• The majority of herbicides were applied in February and March, with fungicides applied predominately in May and June. The majority of insecticides were applied in August, biologicals in May and August, physical control agents in June and molluscicides were only applied in April and June (Figure 24)
• Reasons were supplied for 18% of fungicide use; 16% was for botrytis control and 1% was for powdery mildew. Five other reasons accounted for less than 1% in total
• Reasons were supplied for 79% of herbicide use; all use was for general weed control
• 28% of other soft fruit crops sampled were five years old or less, 24% were six to 10 years old, 3% were over 10 years old and 45% of the crop were an unknown age
• 41% of the other soft fruit crops surveyed was grown in the soil and 59% was grown in pots
• 34% of the sampled crop was grown outdoors, 51% was grown under temporary tunnels and 14% was grown under permanent protection
• 57% of the sampled crop was grown using a ground mulch
• Pollinators were used on 72% of the other soft fruit crops sampled and 28% used no pollinators. Of the sample area using pollinators, 64% were bumble bees, 6% were both bumble bees and honey bees and 1% were honey bees
• 94% of the crops surveyed were harvested in 2024. Of the crops harvested, 74% was for fresh market, 9% was for processing and 18% was for pick-your-own

Table H footnote: Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. Invertebrate biological control agents are applied by number of organisms rather than weight therefore weight data are not presented. For details of all pesticide use on other soft fruit, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 23 footnote: Molluscicides have been excluded as their use represents < 1% of the total area treated. In 2024 other soft fruit included: blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrants (protected), chokeberry, elderberry, gooseberry, honeyberry, jostaberry, loganberry, redcurrants, saskatoon berry, tayberry, whitecurrants and worcesterberry.

Figure 24 footnote: In September 2023, the use of fungicides and insecticides/acaricides were < 1% and have been excluded from this figure. In 2024 other soft fruit included: blueberry, blackberry, chokeberry, blackcurrants (protected), elderberry, gooseberry, honeyberry, jostaberry, loganberry, redcurrants, saskatoon berry, tayberry, whitecurrants and worcesterberry.

Non-protected other soft fruit crops

• An estimated area of 92 hectares of non-protected other soft fruit crops were grown in Scotland in 2024
• The crops encountered in this category were blueberry, gooseberry, honeyberry and redcurrant as well as minor crops; chokeberry, elderberry, jostaberry, loganberry, saskatoon berry, tayberry, whitecurrant and worcesterberry
• 18% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 117 treated hectares with 27 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• The treated area of the non-protected other soft fruit crop received on average 5.5 pesticide applications (see supporting document Table 1). These applications included 5.2 fungicide applications, 1.2 insecticide applications and 1.7 herbicide/desiccant applications (applied to 13, 13 and 17% of the crop area)
• The majority of herbicides were applied in March, with fungicides and insecticides applied predominately in May (Figure 26)

For details of all pesticide use on non-protected other soft fruit, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 25 footnote: In 2024 other non-protected soft fruit included: blueberry, chokeberry, elderberry, gooseberry, honeyberry, jostaberry, loganberry, redcurrants, saskatoon berry, tayberry, whitecurrants and worcesterberry.

Figure 26 footnote: In 2024 other non-protected soft fruit included: blueberry, chokeberry, elderberry, gooseberry, honeyberry, jostaberry, loganberry, redcurrants, saskatoon berry, tayberry, whitecurrants and worcesterberry. In September 2023, the use of fungicides and insecticides/acaricides were 1% and 3% respectively and have been excluded from this figure.

Protected other soft fruit crops

• An estimated area of 243 hectares of protected other soft fruit crops were grown in Scotland in 2024
• The crops encountered in this category were blackberry, blueberry, gooseberry and protected blackcurrants. Protected blackcurrants were included in the protected other soft fruit category due to being recorded in the other fruit category of the census
• 98% of the crop was treated with a pesticide
• Pesticide formulations were applied to 3,247 treated hectares with 1,169 kilograms of pesticide applied in total
• The treated area of the protected other soft fruit crop received on average 12.7 pesticide applications (see supporting document Table 1). These applications included 7.7 biological applications, 3.1 fungicide applications, 1.7 insecticide applications and 3.6 physical control applications (applied to 92, 96, 63 and 14% of the crop area)
• The majority of fungicides and biologicals were applied in May; insecticides were predominantly applied in August and physical control in June (Figure 28)

Table I footnote: Some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable. Invertebrate biological control agents are applied by number of organisms rather than weight therefore weight data are not presented. For details of all pesticide use on protected other soft fruit, please refer to the supporting document.

Figure 27 footnote: Molluscicides and herbicides have been excluded as their use represents < 1% of the total area treated. In 2024 other protected soft fruit included: blackberry, blackcurrants, blueberry and gooseberry.

Figure 28 footnote: In 2024 other protected soft fruit included: blackberry, blackcurrants, blueberry and gooseberry.