Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety Executive

Plant Protection Products Operational Policy Team

Ground floor Mallard House, Kings Pool, 3 Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX

See sub-categories below.

The samples are drawn from the Defra June Survey return (an obligation on the part of farmers to submit data on their annual cropping) so as to represent the area of all arable crops grown throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For England the samples are selected within each of the eight Government Office Regions (GORs), the Welsh Assembly Government provide a further sample, which represent the area grown in Wales, and for Scotland the country is divided into 11 land-use regions (Wood, 1931). The programme includes biennial surveys of arable, soft fruit, orchards, vegetables and edible protected crops and a four yearly survey of grassland & fodder crops. Arable crops account for 90% of all usage in terms of area treated and weight applied. The survey is primarily by visit although emailed responses from farm management software, posted records and telephone responses are now more commonplace. For each survey all crops grown on a farm are included. In most cases full field level data is obtained from each farm (marked as s "single"). However, in a minority of cases sample fields for each crop/variety combination are taken and data from these fields are marked differently (m, "multiple") to those where we have complete data.  Calculations which look at the percentage of pesticides used on each crop and the number of pesticide applications applied to a crop are calculated using the s, "single", data.

2017 and 2018 harvest periods.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

The classification used for pesticides corresponds to Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009 (http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1185/2017-03-09) of the European Parliament and of the Council.
The classification system for crops derives from the Annual crop statistics Handbook 2019 (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/Annexes/apro_cp_esms_an1.pdf).

Six separate commodity sectors:  Grassland & fodder crops 2017; Outdoor vegetable crops 2017; Edible protected crops 2017; Arable crops 2018;  Orchard crops 2018; Soft fruit/Small fruit crops 2018.

See the attached Excel file in the Annexes.

Amenity survey every four years; Aerial application responses annually

The data reported are the quantity of each active substances listed in Annex III of Regulation 1185/2009 contained in plant protection products used on a selected crop, expressed in kg. The area treated with each substance are expressed in hectares.

Agricultural holding or holding means a single unit, both technically and economically, which has a single manage-ment and which undertakes agricultural activities listed in Annex I within the economic territory of the EuropeanUnion, either as its primary or secondary activity (all categories in Annex 1 are included);  These holdings are identified by Defra using a CPH number (county/parish/holding number).

Individual samples are selected for each of the 6 commodity groups.  The minimum holding size varies from 0.01 hectares (edible protected crops); 0.1 hectare (outdoor vegetable crops); 0.4 hectares (soft fruit crops) to 1 hectare (arable,  grassland & fodder crops and orchards).  Sample size varies by survey - 600 holdings arable crops; 450 holdings grassland & fodder crops; 2,000 holdings grassland (postal survey); 440 holdings outdoor vegetables; 210 holdings edible protected crops; 200 holdings orchards; 200 holdings soft fruit.

See sub-categories below.

The entire territory of the country.

The entire territory of the country. United Kingdom excluding Channel Islands; Scilly Islands; Isle of Man and all terriotries included in the guidelines for this concept.

2013 onwards

Not applicable for Pesticide Use Statistics, because it is not based on an index number of time series.

See the attached Excel file in the Annexes.

Arable crops, Soft Fruit and Orchards data are collected on alternate even years - 2014, 2016, 2018 etc.  Edible protected crops and outdoor vegetables are collected on alternate odd years - 2015, 2017, 2019 etc.  Grassland and fodder crops every 4 years 2013, 2017 etc.

See the attached Excel file in the Annexes.

Basic CSV checks - ensuring that data within the database meets the rules set for each database and that database fields holding crop stage and methods of application join to lookup tables; Spray round consistency - All constituents of a spray round (tank mix) have the same date, method of application & crop stage); Continuity - ensures that all tables that require to join - do join;  Area treated > area grown - this cannot happen; Crop sowing dates - ensure that spring crops have spring dates of sowing and winter crops have winter dates of sowing; Mixed units - ensure that ac fields have rates per acre and that ha fields have rates per hectare; Product mismatches - ensures that data in the survey table joins to the product database on product, crop, method of application and crop stage; Crop stage validations - ensure that crop stages such as pre-harvest and pre-emergence agree with the dates of application; Seed treatment areas - these have to add up to the area grown; Seed variety proportions - these have to add up to 100; High and low rates - check to ensure that rates are not too high (>1) or too low (<0.1) when compared to prooduct label rates; Approval status - Ensures each application is checked against the approved product, crop, method of application and crop stage combination. If not the records are checked, the grower is contacted in some cases. If it is a definite non-approved use this is recorded in the database; Reasons for use - use to create another column which standardises the data collected without changing the original data; Failed crops - ensure that data recorded for failed crops is identified as n FC crop stage; Timing of applications - checks to ensure that timing of use is logical for each crop/product combination - e.g. fungicides not used before a crop is drilled (unless used as an in furrow application).

Basic CSV checks - ensuring that data within the database meets the rules set for each database and that database fields holding crop stage and methods of application join to lookup tables; Spray round consistency - All constituents of a spray round (tank mix) have the same date, method of application & crop stage);  Continuity - ensures that all tables that require to join - do join; Area treated > area grown - this cannot happen; Crop sowing dates - ensure that Spring crops have spring dates of sowing and winter crops have winter dates of sowing; Mixed units - ensure that ac fields have rates per acre and that ha fields have rates per hectare; Product mismatches - ensures that data in the survey table joins to the product database on product, crop, method of application and crop stage; Crop stage validations - ensure that crop stages such as pre-harvest and pre-emergence agree with the dates of application; Seed treatment areas - these have to add up to the area grown; Seed variety proportions - these have to add up to 100; High and low rates - check to ensure that rates are not too high (>1) or too low (<0.1) when compared to product label rates; Approval status - Ensures each application is checked against the approved product, crop, method of application and crop stage combination. If not the records are checked, the grower is contacted in some cases. If it is a definite non-approved use this is recorded in the database;  Reasons for use - use to create another column which standardises the data collected without changing the original data; Failed crops - ensure that data recorded for failed crops is identified as n FC crop stage; Timing of applications - checks to ensure that timing of use is logical for each crop/product combination - e.g. fungicides not used before a crop is drilled (unless used as an in furrow application).

Whilst we use the Defra June Statistics and the Basic Horticultural Statisitics for the UK in order to make estimates we do not always feel that these are always correct and on occasion we can make better estimates from the data we are collecting. In many cases we are collecting data from between 30% to 50% of the total area of horticultural crops grown which gives us a good feel for what is actually being grown. For arable crops we sample 6% of the total area grown but we are confident of the Defra June survey data for this and the grassland & fodder surveys. Details on the sample percentage is included in each of the published reports. The methodology for making national estimates can be found in the following Eurostat publication https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/guide.pdf We use three main raising factors to estimate national usage from the samples. RF1 which raises sampled data in each size group and region to the census area in each size group and region; RF2 which raises the sampled area of each crop in each region * RF1 to the regional census area of each crop; RF3 is the final correction factor which raises the sampled areas * RF1 * RF2  to the national cropping area.

Other than the use of raising factors outlined in 3.5 above, there are no other adjustments made.

See sub-categories below.

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/qualityAssurance.pdf

Most comments from reviewers are incorporated into the published reports: https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/index.cfm

Continual improvements in data collection, particularly using non-visit survey methodologies, telephone, email, post; data validation improvements in response to electronic data; data manipulation improvements using farmer/grower software.  Alll of this is ongoing.

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/qualityAssurance.pdf

Use of MySQL through Aqua Data Studio and a new PUS database has meant that error checking, validations, updates, data requests and comparability across databases has all improved since the 2015 submission.

The data are used for a number of purposes including: Informing the pesticide risk assessment (authorisation) process; Policy, including assessing the economic and/or environmental implications of the introduction of new active substances and the withdrawal/non-authorisation of pesticide products (the data reported to organisations such as the FAO, WHO and EU enabling the UK to honour international agreements); evaluating changes in growing methods and Integrated Pest Management where this has an impact on pesticide usage; Informing the targeting of monitoring programmes for residues in food and the environment; Contributing to assessing the impact of pesticide use, principally as part of the Pesticides Forum’s Annual Report; Quantifying pesticide usage and changes in the use of active substances over time; Responding to enquiries (for example, Parliamentary Questions, correspondence, queries under the Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations, etc.).

Have had requests for rodenticide and hardy ornamental plant propagation data but these surveys are no longer conducted.  There have also been some requests where, because of the time involved and the fact that a payment was required, have not gone ahead.

There are no plans to reinstate these surveys. Payments are required on any request in excess of 2 hours. Below 2 hours all request are free.

Not applicable

We feel that all requests for data have gone ahead succesfully. Any subsequent clarifications following a data request have been answered. All requests have met the deadline of those making the request.

2009

The user satisfaction survey was a formal consultation.

See sub-category below.

Not applicable for Pesticide Use Statistics because in this data collection, there is no target on the number of data. Member States are asked to collect data on representative crops without stipulating the number of crops.

-

All published reports for agricultural and horticultural crops contain a statistical report and estimate of RSE for area treated and weight applied: https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/index.cfm

See the attached Excel file in the Annexes.

See sub-categories below.

See the attached Excel file in the Annexes.

See the attached Excel file in the Annexes.

See the attached Excel file in the Annexes.

See the attached Excel file in the Annexes.

This report presents a comprehensive summary of data for outdoor vegetable crops grown and taken to harvest in 2019. We will provide information on any revisions we make to the report or the datasets if any inaccuracies or errors occur. Details of any revisions, including the date upon which they were changed, will appear on the following website: https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/index.cfm

Seasonal adjustment is not applicable to pesticide use statistics since all plant protection treatments associated directly or indirectly with the crop during the reference period are reported.

This report presents a comprehensive summary of data for outdoor vegetable crops grown and taken to harvest in 2019.  We will provide information on any revisions we make to the report or the datasets if any inaccuracies or errors occur.  Details of any revisions, including the date upon which they were changed, will appear on the following website: https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/index.cfm

Thankfully data revisions are quite rare, mainly because of the use of MySQL and ADS for error checking. They do happen and the last data revision posted was for the 2014 surveys: https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/2014surveys.cfm  However, in 2016 it was necessary to re-write the whole arable report because of an error associated with the Defra June Survey data: https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/2016surveys.cfm

Two data revisions have been done

New or improved data

Not applicable

See sub-categories below.

For most recently published survey: https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/2019surveys.cfm

Data collection would have started in October 2019 and the first draft was circulated to reviewers on 04.11.2020

The outdoor vegetable report was published 08 December 2020

For the production of the 2019 outdoor vegetable report delays have been caused because of Covid 19 where most people have been working from home. However, the reporting process regularly takes a long time, approximately 10 - 11 months on average. This is because of 1) the length of time involved in collecting the data 2) the length of time taken to either load or key in the sample data into the database (over 300000 rows of data in the 2018 arable survey) 3) error checks and data validations 4) calculation of raising factors and national estimates 5) incorporating reviewers' comments.

See sub-categories below.

Agreed with HSE (CRD) at the start of the year. Managed delivery times if issues arise.

Not applicable

Government Office Region (NUTS 1) data are collected and the samples are based on the regional areas of each commodity grown. Therefore there is good comparibility between regions. However, certain regions regularly have much larger samples than others because of the extensive areas of crops grown in these regions. For most surveys sample sizes are adequate to make regional comparisons. However, for regions such as the North East, the North West and the country of Wales the areas grown are often small with consequentially small sample sizes. When Relative Standard Errors are calculated these regions and size groups with these regions (and others depending on the survey) are often amalgamated.

Not applicable, because there are no mirror flows in Pesticide Use Statistics.

Not applicable for Pesticide Use Statistics, because it is not based on time series.

Not applicable for Pesticide Use Statistics, because it is not based on time series.

These comparisons are not made

Not applicable for Pesticide Use Statistics, because the data collection is based on a five-year period.

Not applicable, because it has no relevance for national accounts.

All data are based on records collected from farmers and growers. The same methodology (sampling, form design, data collection and making national estimates) has been in operation since 1965 and we are able to compare field level data from 1987 onwards and summary data from 1965.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Published at https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/index.cfm

Publications are available here

Available at https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/index.cfm

The datatbase is avaialble here.

Bespoke requests are answered. Since April of this year there have been 16 requests from Government (61.75 hours); 20 requests from outside Government (19 hours); 4 simple email requests (1hour); and 2 pieces of collaborative work. We ensure confidentiality by ensuring that we don't display data for less than 5 occurences and ensure that we dont identify any regional/crop combinations that would identify growers. To do this we using crop groupings.

Not applicable

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/en-846

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/epp.12210

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/guide.pdf

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/en-846

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/epp.12210

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/guide.pdf

Not applicable

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/guide.pdf

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/pesticideAnalysis.pdf

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/guide.pdf

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/qualityAssurance.pdf

We have included all six major of the major surveys in this report (see Annex). There are additional minor surveys of aerial applications, potato storage and amenity usage that we conduct but I think that these are outside the remit of this report.

Either two or three peer reviews per year depending on the number of surveys conducted.

It is available here

HSE contracts the work out to Fera Science Ltd, under a long term service agreement (LTSA). The last financial year cost around £350,000.00.

For burden on respondents: arable, £1,221; orchards, 2,611; soft fruit, £2,944; edible protected crops, £2,609; outdoor vegetable crops, £5,764, grassland & fodder approximately £6,000.  The published reports show the extent of non-visit methodologies used. The use of electronic records is increasing and for the current survey programme (during Covid) all data will be collected by email, telephone and post. We give farmers and growers a choice of whether they want to participate and the most convenient way for them to participate in the survey. In recent years we have incentivised farmers and growers by providing continuing professional development (CPD) points for BASIS and NRoSO. Where possible we avoid contacting respondents every year. Where possible respondents are excluded from the subsequent years' surveys.

Greater use of farm management software and use of Aqua Data Studio MySQL

Greater use of farm management software.

We ensure confidentiality by ensuring that we don't display data for less than 5 occurrences and ensure that we don't identify any regional/crop combinations that would identify growers. To do this we using crop groupings to disguise crops within a region.

The data include information about individual holdings and occupiers. They are collected with a guarantee of confidentiality under the Agricultural Statistics Act 1979 and/or Fair Processing Notice in place at the time the data were collected. The data are also covered by the requirements of Codes of Practice for statistics. The data may only be used for the purpose they are collected. Access to the data is limited and will not be copied in whole or in part to any other person or body. All those who have access must abide by the confidentiality requirements. Material will only be published in such a way that no information relating to any particular land, business or person can be inferred from it i.e. statistical tables must not show information relating to fewer than five farm holdings in any cell, or of tables from which such information can be deduced. Narrative statements must not include information about an individual farm holding whether directly identifiable or not. Maps and graphic information for publication must not allow identification of any single holding, or information relating to a single holding or to small groups of fewer than five holdings. Where information from different data sources is brought together; increased risks of identification of individual holdings must be properly managed and mitigated.

The Pesticide Usage Data (PUS data) are owned and published under licence (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/). Fera is not responsible or liable for any use of the PUS data and does not warrant the accuracy or fitness for purpose of the Data. Fera services are based on the availability of the PUS data under licence. Fera is not responsible or liable should changes to the PUS data licence prevent the provision of these services in the future.

We ensure confidentiality by ensuring that we don't display data for less than 5 occurences and ensure that we dont identify any regional/crop combinations that would identify growers. To do this we using crop groupings to disguise crops within a region.

We ensure confidentiality by ensuring that we don't display data for less than 5 occurences and ensure that we dont identify any regional/crop combinations that would identify growers. To do this we using crop groupings to disguise crops within a region.

We use the number of occurences per county to determine whether data should be displayed or not. However, there is normally a restriction on not providing data below a NUTS1 level. In order to do this we ask HSE (CRD) for permission and ensure that the regional population is large and that crops are grouped with other crops to prevent the identification of individuals. All microdata are provided by staff experienced in the collection of PUS data and have a knowledge of the crops grown by specialist growers. The ideal lowest level of data dissemination is region and crop group.

Whilst we use the Defra June Statistics and the Basic Horticultural Statistics for the UK in order to make estimates, they are for a year before the data. These may not always be correct; we can often make better estimates from the data we are collecting. In many cases we are collecting data from between 30% to 50% of the total area of horticultural crops grown which gives us a good feel for what is actually being grown. For arable crops we sample 6% of the total area grown. Details on the sample percentage for each commodity group are included in each of the published reports.