Pesticide Usage in Scotland: Rodenticides on Grassland & Fodder Farms 2017

This report presents the results of a survey of rodenticide use on grassland and fodder farms in Scotland in 2017.


Appendix 2 - Survey statistics

Census and sample information

Table 6 Distribution of grassland holdings sampled - 2017

Size Group (ha) H&I and C&O Moray Firth Aberdeen Angus & East Fife Lothian & Central Lowlands Tweed Valley & Southern Uplands Solway Scotland
0.01 - 19.99 19 4 5 3 7 5 2 45
20.00 - 49.99 21 11 15 7 13 6 5 78
50.00 - 99.99 25 6 17 5 23 11 22 109
100.00 - 149.99 17 3 12 3 23 14 14 86
150.00 + 36 5 8 7 29 39 30 154
Total 118 29 57 25 95 75 73 472

H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney. Note: These 472 holdings collectively grew 175,758 ha, four per cent of the 2017 total grass census area

Table 7 Census distribution of grassland holdings (excluding rough grazing) - 2017

Size Group (ha) H&I and C&O Moray Firth Aberdeen Angus & East Fife Lothian & Central Lowlands Tweed Valley & Southern Uplands Solway Scotland
0.01 - 19.99 11,134 2,009 3,818 2,160 4,210 1,688 1,248 26,267
20.00 - 49.99 1,566 477 1,004 440 1,324 487 419 5,717
50.00 - 99.99 936 248 557 239 1,159 436 528 4,103
100.00 - 149.99 374 94 186 94 468 271 331 1,818
150.00 + 370 89 109 92 391 483 347 1,881
Total 14,380 2,917 5,674 3,025 7,552 3,365 2,873 39,786

H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney

Table 8 Distribution of fodder holdings sampled - 2017

Size Group (ha) H&I and C&O Moray Firth Aberdeen Angus & East Fife Lothian & Central Lowlands Tweed Valley & Southern Uplands Solway Scotland
0.01 - 4.99 12 4 7 3 2 2 2 32
5.00 - 9.99 10 8 13 7 7 6 4 55
10.00 - 14.99 4 2 4 4 6 6 4 30
15.00 - 19.99 3 1 2 1 2 3 7 19
20.00 + 3 5 3 2 3 6 5 27
Total 32 20 29 17 20 23 22 163

H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney. Note: These 163 holdings collectively grew 1,901 ha, 12 per cent of the 2017 total fodder census area

Table 9 Census distribution of fodder holdings - 2017

Size Group (ha) H&I and C&O Moray Firth Aberdeen Angus & East Fife Lothian & Central Lowlands Tweed Valley & Southern Uplands Solway Scotland
0.01 - 4.99 472 212 358 102 141 101 56 1,442
5.00 - 9.99 105 79 155 79 95 78 71 662
10.00 - 14.99 30 29 43 24 39 40 45 250
15.00 - 19.99 10 13 19 6 13 29 19 109
20.00 + 10 15 19 8 23 15 21 111
Total 627 348 594 219 311 263 212 2,574

H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney

Raising factors

Table 10 Raising and adjustment factors for grassland holdings - 2017

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 586.00 74.57 37.44 22.00 10.28 1
Moray Firth 502.25 43.36 41.33 31.33 17.80 1
Aberdeen 763.60 66.93 32.76 15.50 13.63 1
Angus/East Fife 720.00 62.86 47.80 31.33 13.14 1
Central Lowlands & Lothian 601.43 101.85 48.29 20.35 13.96 1
Southern Uplands &Tweed Valley 337.60 81.17 39.64 19.36 12.38 1
Solway 624.00 83.80 24.00 23.64 11.57 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 100-150 ha sized farms in Aberdeen would be multiplied by 15.5 (raising factor) and 1.00 (adjustment factor) to give an estimated rodenticide use in that region and size group of 155 kg.

Table 11 Raising and adjustment factors for fodder holdings - 2017

Region Size group (ha) Adjustment factor
0.01 - 4.99 5.00 - 9.99 10.00 - 14.99 15.00 - 19.99 20 +
Highlands & Islands/Caithness & Orkney 39.33 10.50 7.50 3.33 3.33 1
Moray Firth 53.00 9.88 14.50 13.00 3.00 1
Aberdeen 51.14 11.92 10.75 9.50 6.33 1
Angus/East Fife 34.00 11.29 6.00 6.00 4.00 1
Central Lowlands & Lothian 70.50 13.57 6.50 6.50 7.67 1
Southern Uplands &Tweed Valley 50.50 13.00 6.67 9.67 2.50 1
Solway 28.00 17.75 11.25 2.71 4.20 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 15-19.99 ha sized farms in Aberdeen would be multiplied by 9.5 (raising factor) and 1.00 (adjustment factor) to give an estimated rodenticide use in that region and size group of 95 kg.

Survey response rates

Table 12 Response rate for grassland survey - 2017

2016 Percentage of total
Number of postal surveys sent out 1,335
Achieved rodenticide responses (no. returns) 472 35
Total number of refusals/non-contact 863

Table 13 Response rate for fodder survey - 2017

2016 Percentage of total
Target sample 200
Total achieved 163 82
Total number of farms approached 283
Total number of refusals/non-contact 120

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 2017 rodenticide use on grassland and fodder farms survey placed on those providing the information, farmers were asked to estimate the time that they spent providing data. Fifty four per cent of the farmers surveyed provided this information. The median time taken was five minutes.

In addition, PCPs were also asked to estimate how long they took to provide information. Eighty two per cent of the PCPs supplying data provided this information. The median time taken was 10 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 £13.98 [ 6])

It is estimated that the total financial burden to respondents for the 2017 grassland and fodder crop rodenticide survey was £805.

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