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If you have recently received an agriculture related survey form from the ABS, this page will help you understand why the collection of these data are so important. Listed below are answers to Frequently Asked Questions and some information on the uses of agricultural data. A list of contacts is also provided should you wish to discuss any aspect of these collections.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
...about these surveys:
- Agricultural Census
- Agricultural Survey
- Vineyards Survey
- Livestock Slaughtered Survey
- Wool Receivals, Purchases and Sales Survey
- Poultry and Game Birds Slaughtered Survey
- Grain Handlers Stocks Survey
- Wheat Export Sales Survey
- Wheat Users Survey
1. Why does the ABS send out these survey forms relating to agriculture?
2. Why are agricultural collections run every year?
3. Could I be selected in this survey every year?
4. My business is small, why do you need my information?
5. Do I have to fill it in?
6. Why is the Ag Census/Survey form I have received full of questions about activities in which I am not involved?
7. Who uses the data I supply?
8. Why wasn't there a question on . . .?
9. I have already sent you the information requested.
PRIVACY AND ACCURACY
10. Isn't this an intrusion into my private business? Is confidentiality guaranteed?
11. Why don't you pay people to fill in your forms and why can't we have more time to fill them in?
12. How accurate do the figures need to be?
13. How good are ABS figures?
14. Can't the ABS collect these data from sources such as ABARE or DAFF?
1. Why does the ABS send out these survey forms relating to agriculture?
The ABS conducts a number of collections designed to obtain the statistics necessary to keep the agricultural community informed. This data assists policy makers, industry organisations and producers with planning, budgeting and making submissions to government.
Every five years the ABS conducts a census, and in other years sample surveys, of farm businesses to collect agricultural commodity data and natural resource management data. In addition the ABS undertakes a number of smaller specialised agricultural collections which target particular agricultural industries such as the Vineyard collection and Wool Receivals.
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2. Why are the agricultural collections run so regularly?
There are a number of reasons why it is necessary to collect agricultural production information every year. One reason is the variability of Australian climatic conditions which cause significant annual variations in the types and quantities of agricultural goods produced and the practices employed in their production.
Another reason is the importance of agriculture to the Australian economy. Statistics on agriculture are used in compiling national accounts figures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and it is essential data be collected on an annual basis to ensure the value of agriculture is reflected accurately in these figures.
However, it is only once every five years that the ABS conducts an agricultural census of all farm businesses across Australia. This collection is particularly important as it provides statistics which can be used to measure agricultural production and natural resource management at the regional level.
Wheat data are required on a monthly basis over the next three years to provide up-to-date report to inform the marketplace of the stocks of uncommitted wheat available in Australia.
Livestock slaughtered data is collected form the larger abattoirs on a monthly basis with a number of small abattoirs approached annually. This collection provides the information necessary to assist organisations like the Meat and Livestock Australia and Australia Pork Limited understand movements in the market.
Wool receivals information is collected quarterly and is used to inform the wool industry.
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3. Could I be selected in a survey every collection?
Large businesses which make a major contribution to production/use of particular commodities in their region or industry can expect to be included each year. A stratified random sample of the remaining smaller businesses is then selected. This stratification process means the smaller the business, the less the chance of selection.
Note that all in-scope agricultural businesses will be included in the next Agricultural Census to be conducted in 2010-11.
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4. My business is small, why do you need my information?
If your small business has been selected in an ABS agriculture related survey it will be representing a number of other businesses of a similar size. It is important that all size ranges are covered so there is a fair representation of the target population and no bias introduced to the estimates.
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5. Do I have to fill it in?
The ABS relies on the goodwill of individuals and businesses in Australia to provide accurate information as requested. The vast majority of farmers (and other businesses) respond to our requests for information. However, the Census and Statistics Act 1905 provides the Australian Statistician with the power, if necessary, to direct you in writing to answer the questions.
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6. Why is the Ag Census/Survey form I have received full of questions about activities in which I am not involved?
This is a problem in any large collection, but is a particular problem in a sector such as agriculture which covers such a wide range of activities. To design forms which cater only for a particular commodity would add to the cost and complexity of the collection. Accuracy of data would also be more difficult to achieve as it would be almost impossible to predict which commodities a particular farm would be growing, and hence, which forms they should be sent.
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7. Who uses the data I supply?
The information supplied by providers is used internally by the ABS to compile national accounts data. Aggregate data are also used by a wide variety of individuals and organisations in both government and private industry. The information is used by Commonwealth and state governments for planning, budgeting and policy making. Farmer organisations and other producer associations use the data to support submissions to government and to better represent their members. Agriculture service companies also use ABS data in their planning to better meet the needs of their clients in the farming community. For more information see users of agriculture statistics.
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8. Why wasn't there a question on . . . ?
The questions included on the forms are determined through a consultative process involving major users of ABS agricultural statistics.
Each year we ask a number of primary producers to test proposed questions for our agricultural collections to ensure they can be readily understood and easily completed. In addition we rely on information given to us through your comments on the back of the forms. We encourage and value your contributions and make use of them where we can.
If you are interested in having questions included on other topics or aspects, you are invited to send in a submission. To contact the Agriculture Business Statistics Centre see the Providers Contact page.
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9. I have already sent you the information requested.
If you believe you have already provided the information requested by the ABS through a survey or other means, please contact us.
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10. Isn't this an intrusion into my private business? Is confidentiality guaranteed?
The ABS has a responsibility to ensure that it provides a quality statistical service whilst also protecting the privacy rights of those individuals or businesses who provide information. Your completed form remains confidential to the ABS and statistics will only be published in the form of aggregated data. In some circumstances very detailed statistics could relate to agricultural production data for a single business. Respondents who can show that their agricultural business may be identified in the detailed statistics published by the ABS, can apply to the ABS to further aggregate the data to avoid such identification. The Australian Statistician and their staff are bound by the Census and Statistics Act 1905 to observe the strictest confidence in regard to the information supplied by providers. The Act provides for penalties of up to $5,000 or two years in jail, or both, against officers who breach this rule.
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11. Why don't you pay people to fill in your forms and why can't we have more time to fill them in?
The ABS appreciates that considerable time and effort is required on the part of businesses to complete ABS forms. However as the ABS does not have the capacity to pay businesses for their time, we rely on their cooperation to complete the forms. It is important that we get data from providers quickly so that the resulting information can be released as soon as possible after the period to which it relates. In the case of the annual collections, if you are unable to supply us with certain figures because they will not be available for some weeks, you may ask for an extension of time. As timing is particularly important for monthly collections the ABS asks that a careful estimate be provided to assist the timely release of data. We also encourage providers to contact us if they need any help in completing the survey form.
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12. How accurate do the figures need to be?
The ABS requires information that is as accurate as possible. The data supplied by your business contributes to estimates relating to all the agricultural businesses (of a similar nature) operating in Australia. The more accurate the figures you supply, the more accurate the total estimate will be. However, if for some items exact data are not readily available, careful estimates will be accepted.
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13. How good are ABS figures?
Our processing system contains checks for consistency and validity and we are usually able to identify figures which are seriously incorrect. These checks, together with contact with the business manager where required, suggest that most respondents do provide accurate figures. Discussions with industry organisations and business managers themselves indicate that individuals, who are now using statistics more in managing their operations, understand the need for the collection of accurate data and are supplying the ABS with the best information possible.
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14. Can't the ABS collect this data from sources such as ABARE or DAFF?
Organisations such as ABARE (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics) are more involved with forecasting trends within the industry. While ABARE do conduct detailed investigations of specific industries, the ABS is the only organisation that provides an overall picture of the complete agricultural sector. Both ABARE and DAFF (the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia) are in fact major users of ABS data.
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WHO USES THE INFORMATION I PROVIDE?
Agriculture statistics produced by the ABS are used by a wide variety of individuals and organisations in both government and private industry. Commonwealth and state governments make extensive use of agriculture statistics in planning, budgeting, providing advisory services and policy making related to marketing agricultural commodities. Farmer organisations and other producer associations use the data to make submissions to government and to better represent their members. Agriculture service companies, such as fertiliser or farm machinery companies, also use ABS data in their planning to better meet the needs of their clients in the farming community.
The major users of ABS agriculture data include:
Government
- Commonwealth and state departments of primary industry and agriculture such as the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and other departments such as Treasury;
- government agencies such as the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the Bureau of Rural Sciences, the Commonwealth Grants Commission, the Productivity Commission, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO);
- overseas governments and organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Industry organisations, committees and associations:
- farmer organisations such as the National Farmers' Federation and its member bodies; and others such as Dairy Australia, Horticulture Australia Ltd, and the Australian Citrus Growers Inc;
- forecasting committees such as the Wool Production Forecasting Committee, and Australian Wheat Forecasters Pty Ltd;
- marketing and research bodies such as Meat and Livestock Australia, the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, and Australian Pork Ltd.
Other users:
- farmers/growers/feedlotters/traders themselves;
- rural colleges, schools, universities and other educational institutions;
- the banking industry and some other commercial organisations;
- agribusinesses - that is, companies involved with agriculture as consultants or manufacturers;
- the general public.
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WHAT IS THE INFORMATION I PROVIDE USED FOR?
SOME CURRENT USES OF DATA COLLECTED BY THE AGRICULTURE CENSUS AND SURVEYS
ABS National Accounts
ABS National Accounts Branch use annual local value estimates of Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced (VACP) for the compilation of estimates for gross operating surplus and gross income for the farming sector, as well as for the compilation of the Supply-Use and Input-Output tables. National Accounts Branch also use estimates of production, gross unit value and local unit value for various detailed investigations and analyses.
Australia's unpredictable climate, and the consequent volatility of agriculture commodity production, means that reliable estimates of VACP can only be achieved by annual collection of a large range of commodities - the only identified exceptions to this are commodities grown in controlled environments e.g. glasshouses. Estimates are required on an annual basis at State level for input to State Accounts.
International trade and industry restructure programs
Industry adjustment and its supporting policies are a significant issue in regional Australia. Agriculture commodity data are essential to support informed discussion and decision making in relation to industry restructure programs, farm subsidy programs and trade agreements.
As an example, ABS provided the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) with Statistical Local Area (SLA) level data on pork, banana and apple production together with numbers of producers collected as part of the 2001 Agricultural Census. This information was used to inform discussions addressing the possible economic and social impacts of the Revised Import Risk Assessment arrangements for those commodities. The data were used to identify those regions that may be seriously impacted by the risks imposed by these competing imports, and possible strategies to ameliorate these impacts. These types of requests are becoming more regular as governments seek to obtain information to assist with assessing the costs and benefits of free trade issues. The commodity groups included in these types of data requests can cover the entire range of principal commodities produced by the agriculture sector. Within industries there often exist producer organisations that can and do provide industry estimates, however the data provided by the ABS are considered to be unbiased and impartial and, as a result, invaluable when preparing policy reports.
Market information
To ensure industry participants have equitable access to key market information following the recent deregulation of wheat export marketing the ABS has been tasked with the role of collecting statistics relating to the monthly availability of wheat within Australia. Initially statistics relating to the tonnes of committed and uncommitted wheat will be collected for a 3 year period, until 2011.
Industry support
In the event of flood or drought in Australia, historical ABS commodity production data are used as the benchmark to compare current or anticipated production. The rarity and severity of the event, measured by comparing current production with production data going back 25 years, has been a key criterion used to assess whether primary producers within a region should be declared eligible for Exceptional Circumstances (EC) support. Given the concerns of climate change and it's impact on agricultural production, it is anticipated that annual accurate data at the regional level will become more important in the future as governments try to identify long term trends from short term exceptional situations.
Commodity data are also vital to discussions held between Australian exporters and parties in importing countries when assessing Australian producers ability to meet foreign trade contracts. Information from the broad range of industries, but in particular developing industries, is required annually to support these discussions.
State and local government uses
Commodity production and VACP data at the Local Government level is keenly sort by state and local governments. This information is used to assess regional output, identify established and emerging infrastructure demands, and measure regional growth.
Agriculture Consultants
Agriculture consultants and advisers are increasingly requesting ABS agriculture production data, particularly at the SLA level. This information is used to support primary producers and rural industry in their growth and development planning. With increased interest in peri-urban development, ABS commodity production and producer number data have fed into a number of reports prepared for both the South Australian and Victorian Governments on the social, economic and environmental effects of peri-urban growth.
Forecasting
Current commodity production measures are a key component in forecasting production. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) and a large number of statutory authorities and industry bodies (e.g. Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Oilseed Federation and Horticulture Australia Limited) are all involved in the business of forecasting future agricultural production. Forecasts of future production can have a significant influence on the world price of grains and other agricultural products, and errors in forecasting can have significant negative implications for world trade and producer incomes. Without reliable historical data relating to the number of breeding stock, the area available for crop, historical crop yields and the number of bearing and non-bearing trees, forecasting production would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.
The triple-bottom-line approach to program development
There is increasing emphasis placed on the triple-bottom-line approach (where the economic, environmental and social impact of policies are considered together) to program development and monitoring throughout government. In rural areas, where agriculture drives the local economy and the community, this implies a need for a wide range of information about farm production, management practices and finances, as well as personal characteristics of farmers and farm household members.
Establishing a direct link between the condition of the land, land management strategies and commodity production provides the level of detail necessary for meaningful analysis. For example, data linking the presence and management of salinity and the area and yield of crops grown in these areas provides an understanding of the economic impact caused by this environmental problem. Similarly, measuring irrigation practices, water use and crop production in irrigated areas provides data on the economic impact of changes in policy relating to water rights and water licensing laws.
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CONTACTS
If you need help with any of our surveys, or wish to provide comments on the surveys or survey content, you can:
Phone or fax the ABS:
Agricultural Surveys:
Free call: 1800 647 011
Fax: 1300 303 813
Vineyards collection:
Free call: 1800 059 223
Fax: 1300 303 813
Livestock slaughtering and wool receivals:
Free call: 1800 030 084
Free fax: 1300 303 813
Wheat Export Sales Survey:
Free call: 1800 647 011
Fax: 1300 303 813
Wheat Users Survey:
Free call: 1800 281 656
Fax: 1300 303 813
Grain Handlers Stocks Survey:
Free call: 1800 197 492
Fax: 1800 654 937
Write to the ABS, stating the name of the survey:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Reply Paid 76746
Sydney NSW 2000
Visit in person one of our State ABS Offices
The ABS is grateful for the cooperation of data providers in returning their completed forms promptly to enable early processing and release of results from our survey collections. We look forward to your continued support.
Thank you
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