Interpreting 'big data' to support your business

Analyse risks and trends

Predictive analytics, using the ‘big data’ from the surveys, allows you to scan and analyse information on the latest developments in your industry, its environment and trends in use.

Redevelop your products

Analysis of the data can help you to understand where and how your products are being used, what proportion of the overall market they account for and how this has changed over time.

Insights from years of historical data

• The challenging weather conditions that many growers faced in autumn 2019 resulted in an increase in spring cropping and a decrease in winter cropping for the 2020 arable survey. For example, the area drilled with spring barley increased by 68% in 2020 compared to the previous survey in 2018. However, the area of wheat (winter and spring) declined by 22%, whereas winter barley decreased by 25% over the same period. This switch from winter to spring cropping contributed to a 22% reduction in the area treated in the UK between 2018 and 2020 and a decrease of 27% by weight of pesticides applied. These changes in cropping and pesticide usage were largely reversed in 2022.
• Between 2020 and 2022 there was a significant decrease in the use of foliar applied insecticides on sugar beet (68% by area treated and 71% by weight applied). This could be due to the emergency authorisation of the neonicotinoid seed treatment Cruiser SB (Thiamethoxam) in 2022, as there were no approvals for this seed treatment in 2020.
• Data on macro-biological control agents (living predators, parasites and nematodes) are collected as part of all surveys. Use of macro-biological controls are particularly important for the edible protected crop and soft fruit surveys, accounting for 61% of the total treated area for edible protected crops in 2021 and for 11% of the total treated area for soft fruit crops in 2022.