Pesticide use in agriculture in 2011

Statistics Norway carried out a postal sample survey concerning pesticide use in 2011. Similar surveys were carried out in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2008. The survey results serve as information to national authorities when monitoring the pesticide use and in the ongoing work to reach stipulated goals on reduced health and environmental hazard from those substances.

The survey comprised the following crops: Potatoes, onions, common cabbage, carrots, strawberries, apples, meadows and pastureland, barley, oats, spring wheat, winter wheat and oil-seeds. These crops comprised about 97 percent of total agricultural area in use in 2011.

The basic population for the survey was 44 804 holdings applying governmental subsidies as per 31 July 2011, deducted 1 558 holdings practicing mainly organic farming or were under conversion to organic farming. The gross sample included 4 323 holdings. It was voluntary to respond the questionnaire. The survey as a whole had a response rate of 64 percent. However, the response rate varied significantly by crop, from 59 for oats and wheat to 81 for cabbage. When considering the results from this survey, one should bear in mind that pesticide use varies significantly from one year to another, mainly depending on weather conditions.

35 percent of the areas in the survey were treated with pesticides in 2011. Only 6 percent of meadows and pastureland were treated. Except for meadows and pastureland, the percentage of area treated with pesticides at least once varied by crop from 79 to 99. The proportion of oil-seeds areas treated were 79 percent, while 82 percent of the apple tree plantations were treated. Furthermore, between 90 and 95 percent of barley, oats, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and strawberry beds were treated with pesticides. Among the remaining crops (onions and wheat) between 97 and 99 percent of the areas were sprayed.

Main types of pesticides used varied greatly by crop. Herbicides were used in all the specified crops. In onions and wheat more than 96 percent of the areas were treated with herbicides. Fungicides were most common in onions, potatoes, strawberries and wheat. The highest proportions of areas sprayed with insecticides were in cabbages, strawberry beds, carrots and apple tree plantations. In addition, growth regulators in grains were used and between 25 and 31 percent of the areas were sprayed. In meadows and pastureland solely the use of herbicides was recorded.

In average, apple trees were sprayed 7.2 times during the growing season, while the number of treatments in potatoes and onions was 6.7. Areas of strawberries were in average sprayed 6.2 times. Areas of carrots and cabbage were treated 4.7 times and 3.3 times respectively. In vegetables, fruit and berries the number of treatments varied significantly by size of crop area. Holdings with a small area sprayed fewer times than holdings with a medium or large area. Grains and oil-seed areas were treated between 1 and 3 times, included treatment against couch grass etc. after harvest. Almost all treated meadows and pastureland were treated only once.

Treatment against weeds was mainly carried out in May and June. Some areas of grains and oil-seeds were treated after harvesting in September and October. Most areas of barley and winter wheat were treated with fungicides in June. Oats and spring wheat and oil-seeds and onions were mainly treated in July. The largest proportion of areas with strawberry beds and apple tree plantations was treated in May and June, cabbage and carrots in August. Potatoes were treated with fungicides mainly in July and August. Most of the treatments with insecticides were done in June and July.

The survey results show that almost all areas were treated in accordance with recommended application rates or under this level.

Use of pesticides estimated as active substance was 318 tonnes in 2001 and 357 tonnes in 2003 and 354 tonnes in 2005. From 2008 to 2011, the use of pesticides increased from 282 tonnes to a total of 318 tonnes active substance.

Acknowledgement: The Norwegian Food Safety Authority