7501.0 - Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, 2005-06  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/06/2007   
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MEDIA RELEASE
June 25, 2007
Embargoed 11.30 am (AEST)
69/2007
Agricultural production valued at $37 billion for 2005-06: ABS

The value of Australian agricultural production was $37 billion in 2005-06, according to preliminary figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

The value of crop production rose to $19.6 billion, benefiting from good seasonal conditions during 2005-06 and increased prices:
    • wheat for grain rose to $5.1 billion due to increased production and prices (up by 2% to $200/tonne).
    • barley for grain rose to $1.4 billion, with increased production partly offset by reduced prices (down by 6% to $151/tonne).
    • sugar cane rose to $1.1 billion, mainly due to a 7% price increase (to nearly $28/tonne).
    • cotton rose to $960 million (up by 2%), as a result of increased production.

The value of slaughterings and other disposals (such as exports) fell by less than 1% to $12 billion:
    • cattle and calves fell by 2% to $7.7 billion; prices rose 3% but disposals fell 4%.
    • sheep and lambs rose 8% to $2.1 billion; prices remained steady and disposals rose by 9%.
    • poultry dropped 6% to $1.2 billion; production was steady but the price fell by 6%.
    • pigs fell by 2% to $889 million, as the price dropped by 2% and production rose by less than 1%.
The value of livestock products rose to $5.8 billion as a result of the increased value of milk and eggs offsetting a fall in wool.
    • milk increased by 5% to $3.3 billion, due to the increase in average prices.
    • wool fell by 5% to $2.1 billion, with average price down 7% as production rose by 3%.
    • eggs increased by 16% to $382 million despite a 10% fall in prices.

Further details are in Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia 2005-06 (cat. no. 7501.0).

Media Note: Collection techniques for the Agricultural Census have changed, and as a result the estimated value of total Australian agricultural production in 2005-06 is not strictly comparable with previous figures.