Pesticide Usage in Scotland: Rodenticides on Arable Farms 2020

This report presents the results of a survey of rodenticide use on arable farms in Scotland in 2020


Appendix 2 - Survey statistics

Census and sample information

Table 6 Distribution of arable holdings sampled in Scotland - 2020
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 7 0 4 1 1 0 2 15
20.00 – 49.99 1 5 10 7 1 4 7 35
50.00 – 99.99 2 9 15 15 12 5 7 65
100.00 – 149.99 1 7 8 17 9 3 9 54
150.00 + 2 13 10 31 16 3 24 99
Total 13 34 47 71 39 15 49 268
Table 7 Census distribution of arable holdings in Scotland - 2020
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 1,343 336 825 281 205 499 455 3,944
20.00 – 49.99 117 234 547 292 175 295 294 1,954
50.00 – 99.99 54 160 423 286 226 180 180 1,509
100.00 – 149.99 13 85 152 148 137 68 107 710
150.00 + 8 78 163 189 163 64 154 819
Total 1,535 893 2,110 1,196 906 1,106 1,190 8,936

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 - 2020
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 191.86 117.00 27.00 13.00 4.00 1.0000
Moray Firth NA 75.03 28.50 19.47 9.62 1.6032
Aberdeen 206.25 54.70 28.20 19.00 16.30 1.0000
Angus 281.00 41.71 19.07 8.71 6.10 1.0000
East Fife & Lothian 205.00 175.00 18.83 15.22 10.19 1.0000
Central Lowlands NA 134.38 65.59 41.30 38.87 1.8221
Southern Uplands, Tweed Valley & Solway 227.50 42.00 25.71 11.89 6.42 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 19.00 (raising factor) and 1.00 (adjustment factor) to give an estimated rodenticide use in that region and size group of 190 kg. NA = not applicable.

Survey response rates

Table 9 Response rate for arable rodenticide survey - 2020
2020 Percentage of total
Target sample 350 100
Total achieved 268 77
Total number of farms approached 474
Total number of refusals/non-contact 206

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 used non-visit methods of data collection such as email, post or telephone call.

To determine the total burden that the 2020 rodenticide use on arable farms survey placed on those providing the information, farmers were asked to estimate the time spent providing data. Ninety seven 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. Eighty per cent of the PCPs supplying data provided this information. The median time taken was 25 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 £15.62(9))

It is estimated that the total financial burden to respondents for the 2020 arable crop rodenticide survey was £240.03.

Contact

Email: psu@sasa.gov.scot

Back to top