Pesticide usage - rodenticides on arable farms 2018: survey results

Information from a survey of rodenticide use on arable farms in Scotland in 2018.


Appendix 2 - Survey statistics

Census and sample information

Table 6 Distribution of arable holdings sampled in Scotland - 2018

Size Group (ha) H & I and C & O Moray Firth Aberdeen Angus East Fife & Lothian Central Lowlands TV, SU & Solway Scotland
0.01 - 19.99 6 1 4 1 2 4 4 22
20.00 - 49.99 2 3 9 5 4 7 6 36
50.00 - 99.99 2 6 16 10 12 6 7 59
100.00 - 149.99 3 6 17 12 12 4 15 69
150.00 + 0 11 11 21 20 10 13 86
Total 13 27 57 49 50 31 45 272

Table 7 Census distribution of arable holdings in Scotland - 2018

Size Group (ha) H & I and C & O Moray Firth Aberdeen Angus East Fife & Lothian Central Lowlands TV, SU & Solway Scotland
0.01 - 19.99 1,369 364 840 272 202 506 439 3,992
20.00 - 49.99 132 227 561 313 185 282 283 1,983
50.00 - 99.99 * 157 423 286 228 184 175 1,496
100.00 - 149.99 * 81 154 152 153 * 107 724
150.00 + * 80 146 184 160 * 156 793
Total 1,564 909 2,124 1,207 928 1,096 1,160 8,988

* To prevent disclosure of information about individual holdings, entries relating to fewer than five holdings are not reported

H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney, TV=Tweed Valley, SU=Southern Uplands

Raising factors

Table 8 Raising and adjustment factors for arable holdings - 2018

Region Size group (ha) Adjustment factor
0.01 - 19.99 20.00 - 49.99 50.00 - 99.99 100.00 - 149.99 150 +
Highlands & Islands/Caithness & Orkney 228.1667 66.0000 21.5000 5.3333 1.0026
Moray Firth 364.0000 75.6667 26.1667 13.5000 7.2727 1.0000
Aberdeen 210.0000 62.3333 26.4375 9.0588 13.2727 1.0000
Angus 272.0000 62.6000 28.6000 12.6667 8.7619 1.0000
East Fife & Lothian 101.0000 46.2500 19.0000 12.7500 8.0000 1.0000
Central Lowlands 126.5000 40.2857 30.6667 15.2500 6.3000 1.0000
Southern Uplands, Tweed Valley & Solway 109.7500 47.1667 25.0000 7.1333 12.0000 1.0000

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 100-150 ha sized farms in Aberdeen would be multiplied by 9.0588(raising factor) and 1.00 (adjustment factor) to give an estimated rodenticide use in that region and size group of 90.59 kg.

Survey response rates

Table 9 Response rate for arable rodenticide survey - 2018

2018 Percentage of total
Target sample 350
Total achieved 272 78
Total number of farms approached 563
Total number of refusals/non-contact 291

Financial burden to survey respondents

In order to minimise the burden on farmers, the survey team use non-visit methods of data collection such as email, post or telephone call, where possible.

To determine the total burden that the 2018 rodenticide use on arable farms survey placed on those providing the information, farmers were asked to estimate the time that they spent providing data. 90 per cent 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. 95 per cent of the PCPs supplying data provided this information. The median time taken was 15 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 £14.48(9))

It is estimated that the total financial burden to respondents for the 2018 arable crop rodenticide survey was £203.69.

Contact

Email: psu@sasa.gov.scot

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