UK farm plant protection products expenditure
UK farm plant protection products expenditure stood at £925m in 2025, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Farm income and yields table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1973 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Farm income and yields table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total intermediate consumption | 21,624.43 | 21,293.54 | 21,999.39 | 21,719.25 | 18,613.02 | 16,939.16 | 17,264.94 | 17,117.51 | 15,919.91 | 15,009.62 | |
| Plant protection products | 925 | 963.52 | 1,039.81 | 958.19 | 868.13 | 882.91 | 1,009.65 | 970.2 | 976.29 | 952.91 | |
| Veterinary expenses | 598.04 | 565.83 | 526.78 | 498.86 | 476.32 | 460.48 | 455.18 | 468.6 | 464.76 | 453.33 |
Understanding UK farm plant protection products expenditure
Expenditure incurred by agricultural producers across the United Kingdom on chemical and biological agents applied to crops for disease, weed, and pest management is aggregated here in GBP million. This series measures intermediate consumption specifically tied to herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, separating crop protection out from broader material inputs such as fertilisers or seeds. It excludes machinery costs and direct labour associated with spraying applications.
Interpreting this metric requires accounting for weather-driven pest pressures and international chemical commodity pricing, which can shift outlays independently of application volumes. Early figures rely on sample surveys of farm businesses and merchant sales, making them prone to subsequent revision when administrative data and census results are fully incorporated. Comparing annual totals directly can mislead if shifting pest challenges force sudden changes in spray frequency, meaning analysts should examine volume indices alongside monetary values. Avoid treating these figures as a proxy for total crop husbandry costs, as they omit land preparation and harvesting outlays.
Frequently asked questions
- What exact farm purchases are captured within plant protection products expenditure?
- The series tracks commercial outlays on herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and associated growth regulators used in crop cultivation across the United Kingdom.
- How does this expenditure series differ from fertiliser outlays?
- Plant protection products focus strictly on pest, weed, and disease control chemicals, whereas fertiliser accounts cover nutrient enhancements such as nitrogen, phosphate, and potash.
- Why might spending on crop protection shift independently of planted area?
- Unusually wet growing seasons can intensify fungal and weed pressures, requiring more intensive chemical treatments regardless of whether total cultivated acreage expands or contracts.