Use of pesticides in agricultural and horticultural production 2024

Data on agricultural use of plant protection products have been collected from farmers in 2013, 2018 and 2024. The statistics published now for 2024 include food peas and fodder peas as new plants. In addition, information on rapeseed and turnip rape is reported separately for autumn and spring sown forms.

Statistics from previous years only contain data on total use of glyphosate products, but in the statistics for 2024, use with crops and other use of glyphosate products are reported separately. For example, use with crops includes spraying just before or after direct sowing or spraying between rows during the growing season. Other uses of glyphosate preparations include, for example, the control of couch grass from fallow or after grain harvest before autumn tillage, and the termination of ley after the last harvest.

The use of plant protection products has generally decreased since the beginning of the statistics in 2013, which corresponds to the development of sales volumes (https://tukes.fi/en/chemicals/plant-protection-products/sales-volumes). However, the difference between 2018 and 2024 in the use of plant protection products is rather small, which is explained by the severe drought that reduced the need and use of the products during the 2018 growing season. Weather conditions in 2024 were more favourable for cultivation, but the local differences were large. Especially the spring was dry, and later heavy rains hindered growth in many places. Warm and humid weather increased the incidence of plant diseases.

The distribution of the use of preparations for different targets in 2024 corresponded to previous statistical years:

• Of the total amount of plant protection products used, 81% were herbicides, 15% were fungicides, 1% were insecticides and 3% were growth regulators.
• Glyphosate products included in herbicides covered about half of the total use of plant protection products in agriculture.
• 17% of the use of glyphosate products occurred with crops.
• In relation to the crop area, plant protection products were most used with sugar beet, potatoes, open-field vegetables, strawberry and apple, which is related to the intensive cultivation of these plants. 

In the figures of 2013 and 2018, glyphosate products used in connection with crops are not included in herbicides (weeds).

The statistics cover the most important crops in arable farming and open-field horticulture. In 2024, the plant species included in the statistics accounted for 99 per cent of the cultivated area of the whole country and 88 per cent of the utilized agricultural area. The data are based on data from around 6,000 farms, from which results covering the whole country have been estimated.

The statistics on agricultural use of plant protection products will become more frequent in the coming years. The next statistical year is 2026, and as of 2028, the statistics will be produced annually. Data transfer electronically from farm management software is also planned.