Pesticides were applied to 4% of Scottish grassland in 2025
The survey estimated less than 0.5% of rough grazing was treated.
Event / data period: 2025
Published: · Updated:
Scotland’s 2025 survey estimated about four million hectares of grassland, including rough grazing, with pesticides applied to 4% of grassland. Less than 0.5% of rough grazing was treated. The estimated pesticide application area was about 71,000 hectares for grassland and 24,000 hectares for fodder crops; the reported relative standard errors were 10% and 18%, respectively.
The combined formulation weight was estimated at about 56 tonnes for grassland and 12 tonnes for fodder crops, each with a 12% relative standard error. Pesticides were applied to 46% of fodder-crop area. Application area counts repeat treatments, so it is not the amount of unique land treated.
Data
Grassland and fodder pesticide estimates
Key use estimates from Scotland’s 2025 grassland and fodder survey.
| Otlaklar | Grassland | المراعي | Prairies | Pastizales | Grünland | Pastagens | 71000 | 10 | 56 | 12 | 4 |
| Yem bitkileri | Fodder crops | محاصيل العلف | Cultures fourragères | Cultivos forrajeros | Futterpflanzen | Culturas forrageiras | 24000 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 46 |
Methodology
Values are from the official survey page and supporting workbook. Hectare and tonne values are approximate survey estimates. Relative standard error is a sampling-precision statistic, not a confidence interval. Application area includes repeat treatments and does not measure unique land.
Updated:
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/pesticide-usage-scotland-grassland-fodder-crops-2025/
- https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/10/pesticide-usage-scotland-grassland-fodder-crops-2025/documents/grassland-fodder-crops-2025-supporting-document/grassland-fodder-crops-2025-supporting-document/govscot%3Adocument/grassland-fodder-crops-2025-supporting-document.xlsx
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