Pesticide use, 2008

In 2008, Statistics Norway conducted its fourth survey on the use of pesticides in agriculture. Measured by amount of active substance, the use of pesticides showed a decrease of 20 per cent compared with the previous survey in 2005. Herbicides accounted for 65 per cent of the total weight of 282 tonnes of active substances of pesticide applied, fungicides 27 per cent, growth regulators 7 per cent and insecticides one per cent.

One third of the agricultural area sprayed

Thirty-five per cent of the conventional agricultural areas in use were treated with pesticides in 2008. Only 6 per cent of meadows and pastureland were treated. For other crops, the percentage of area treated with pesticides varied from 64 per cent for oil-seeds to almost 98 per cent for carrots and winter wheat.

Decrease in weights of active substances

The weights of active substances of herbicides and fungicides applied in 2008 decreased to 80 per cent of the weights applied in 2005. Growth regulators decreased to 60 per cent. Use of insecticides was almost constant at 3 tonnes in all of the surveys. When considering the results, one should bear in mind that pesticide use varies significantly from one year to another, mainly depending on weather conditions. Reduction in the area of grains may also have contributed to the decrease in the weights of active substances.

Decreasing number of treatments

The number of treatments in most of the crops decreased from 2005 to 2008. Onions, carrots, strawberries, apples, meadows and pastureland, spring wheat, winter wheat and oil-seeds were sprayed fewer times. Barley and oats had the same number of treatments while potatoes and cabbage had an increase. The average number of treatments varied between one in meadows and pastureland and 7.2 in apples.

Tables:

• Table 1 Holdings with spraying on area of different crops and area sprayed. 2008
• Table 2 Use of pesticides on area of different crops, by type of pesticide. 2008