Pesticide Usage in Scotland: Rodenticides on Arable Farms

This report presents the results of a survey of rodenticide use on arable farms in Scotland in 2022.


Appendix 2 - Survey statistics

Single Application Form and sample information

Table 6 Distribution of arable holdings sampled in Scotland - 2022
Group Size (ha) 0.01 to 19.99 20.00 to 49.99 50.00 to 99.99 100.00 to 149.99 150.00 + Total
H&I and C&O 5 3 5 1 0 14
Moray Firth 2 6 7 5 12 32
Aberdeen 3 11 17 13 22 66
Angus 0 6 15 9 18 48
East Fife & Lothian 2 5 13 11 32 63
Central Lowlands 3 7 8 6 5 29
TV, SU & Solway 4 9 8 10 15 46
Scotland 19 47 73 55 104 298
Table 7 SAF distribution of arable holdings in Scotland - 2022
Group Size (ha) 0.01 to 19.99 20.00 to 49.99 50.00 to 99.99 100.00 to 149.99 150.00 + Total
H&I and C&O 738 122 49 14 8 931
Moray Firth 250 212 160 75 81 778
Aberdeen 619 494 397 160 166 1836
Angus 180 269 269 136 194 1048
East Fife & Lothian 115 168 207 130 170 790
Central Lowlands 384 278 179 63 64 968
TV, SU & Solway 402 270 176 108 157 1113
Scotland 2688 1813 1437 686 840 7464

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 - 2022
Region Size group (ha) Adjustment factor
0.01–19.99 20.00–49.99 50.00–99.99 100.00-149.99 150 +
H & I and C & O 147.60 40.67 9.80 14.00 N/A 1.0087
Moray Firth 125.00 35.33 22.86 15.00 6.75 1.0000
Aberdeen 206.33 44.91 23.35 12.31 7.55 1.0000
Angus N/A 44.83 17.93 15.11 10.78 1.2074
East Fife & Lothian 57.50 33.60 15.92 11.82 5.31 1.0000
Central Lowlands 128.00 39.71 22.38 10.50 12.80 1.0000
TV, SU & Solway 100.50 30.00 22.00 10.80 10.47 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 100-149.99 ha sized farms in Aberdeen would be multiplied by 12.31 (raising factor) and 1.00 (adjustment factor) to give an estimated rodenticide use in that region and size group of 123.1 kg. NA = not applicable. H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney, TV=Tweed Valley, SU=Southern Uplands

Survey response rates

Table 9 Response rate for arable rodenticide survey - 2022
Response rate 2022 Percentage of total
Target sample 350 100
Total achieved 298 85
Total number of farms approached 506
Total number of refusals/non-contact 208

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 2022 rodenticide use on arable farms survey placed on those providing the information, farmers were asked to estimate the time spent providing data. One hundred per cent of the farmers surveyed provided this information. The median time taken was one minute.

In addition, PCPs were also asked to estimate how long they took to provide information. Ninety one per cent of the PCPs supplying data provided this information. The median time taken was 30 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 £16.69[11])

It is estimated that the total financial burden to respondents for the 2022 arable crop rodenticide survey was £258.14.

Contact

Email: wildlifeunit@sasa.gov.scot

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