Pesticide Usage in Scotland: Rodenticides on Grassland and Fodder Farms 2021
This report presents the results of a survey of rodenticide use on grassland and fodder farms in Scotland in 2021.
Appendix 2: Survey statistics
Census and sample information
| 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 | 23 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 69 |
| 20.00 – 49.99 | 17 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 68 |
| 50.00 – 99.99 | 21 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 28 | 15 | 8 | 95 |
| 100.00 – 149.99 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 10 | 64 |
| 150.00 + | 25 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 42 | 20 | 127 |
| Total | 102 | 25 | 47 | 24 | 108 | 73 | 44 | 423 |
H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney, SU = Southern Uplands, TV = Tweed Valley
| 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 | 10,514 | 1,988 | 3,654 | 2,144 | 4,122 | 1,665 | 1,257 | 25,344 |
| 20.00 - 49.99 | 1,510 | 447 | 933 | 410 | 1,260 | 482 | 387 | 5,429 |
| 50.00 - 99.99 | 888 | 240 | 526 | 229 | 1,052 | 421 | 490 | 3,846 |
| 100.00 - 149.99 | 375 | 102 | 160 | 89 | 498 | 242 | 319 | 1,785 |
| 150.00 + | 392 | 83 | 115 | 96 | 392 | 484 | 352 | 1,914 |
| Total | 13,679 | 2,860 | 5,388 | 2,968 | 7,324 | 3,294 | 2,805 | 38,318 |
H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney, SU = Southern Uplands, TV = Tweed Valley
| 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 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 32 |
| 5.00 – 9.99 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 52 |
| 10.00 – 14.99 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 33 |
| 15.00 – 19.99 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 22 |
| 20.00 + | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 39 |
| Total | 32 | 24 | 28 | 17 | 25 | 29 | 23 | 178 |
H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney
| 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 | 450 | 174 | 332 | 83 | 135 | 81 | 56 | 1,311 |
| 5.00 – 9.99 | 130 | 86 | 139 | 73 | 83 | 73 | 59 | 643 |
| 10.00 – 14.99 | 29 | 25 | 32 | 20 | 40 | 47 | 30 | 223 |
| 15.00 – 19.99 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 113 |
| 20.00 + | 14 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 29 | 39 | 155 |
| Total | 637 | 317 | 535 | 199 | 299 | 252 | 206 | 2,445 |
H&I=Highlands & Islands, C&O=Caithness & Orkney
Raising factors
| 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 | 457.13 | 88.82 | 42.29 | 23.44 | 15.68 | 1 |
| Moray Firth | 248.50 | 89.40 | 60.00 | 20.40 | 27.67 | 1 |
| Aberdeen | 365.40 | 66.64 | 40.46 | 26.67 | 28.75 | 1 |
| Angus/East Fife | 306.29 | 102.50 | 38.17 | 44.50 | 19.20 | 1 |
| Central Lowlands & Lothian | 317.08 | 63.00 | 37.57 | 26.21 | 14.00 | 1 |
| Southern Uplands & Tweed Valley | 277.50 | 120.50 | 28.07 | 40.33 | 11.52 | 1 |
| Solway | 628.50 | 96.75 | 61.25 | 31.90 | 17.60 | 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 26.67 (raising factor) and 1.00 (adjustment factor) to give an estimated rodenticide use in that region and size group of 266.7 kg.
| 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 | 50.00 | 13.00 | 5.80 | 4.67 | 2.80 | 1 |
| Moray Firth | 29.00 | 12.29 | 5.00 | 11.00 | 4.20 | 1 |
| Aberdeen | 41.50 | 12.64 | 10.67 | 4.50 | 7.00 | 1 |
| Angus/East Fife | 27.67 | 14.60 | 6.67 | 4.50 | 3.50 | 1 |
| Central Lowlands & Lothian | 45.00 | 9.22 | 10.00 | 4.25 | 4.80 | 1 |
| Southern Uplands & Tweed Valley | 40.50 | 12.17 | 6.71 | 4.40 | 3.22 | 1 |
| Solway | 56.00 | 14.75 | 5.00 | 7.33 | 4.33 | 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 4.5 (raising factor) and 1 (adjustment factor) to give an estimated rodenticide use in that region and size group of 45 kg.
Survey response rates
| 2021 | Percentage of total | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of postal surveys sent out | 1,298 | |
| Achieved rodenticide responses (no. returns) | 423 | 33 |
| Total number of refusals/non-contact | 875 |
| 2021 | Percentage of total | |
|---|---|---|
| Target sample | 200 | |
| Total achieved | 178 | 89 |
| Total number of farms approached | 281 | |
| Total number of refusals/non-contact | 103 |
Financial burden to survey respondents
In order to minimise the burden on farmers and to comply with the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the survey team use non-visit methods of data collection such as email, post or telephone call.
To determine the total burden that the 2021 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. Ninety-seven per cent of the farmers surveyed provided this information. The median time taken was three minutes (this includes all responses, including those who did not use rodenticides).
In addition, PCPs were also asked to estimate how long they took to provide information. Seventy 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 £16.07(10))
It is estimated that the total financial burden to respondents for the 2021 grassland and fodder crop rodenticide survey was £552.
Contact
Email: psu@sasa.gov.scot
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