7111.0 - Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, 2006-07  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/12/2007   
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EXPLANATORY NOTES


INTRODUCTION

1 This publication presents preliminary estimates of principal agricultural commodities and livestock numbers for the 2006-07 season, ewes expected to lamb in the forthcoming season, and comparative data for the previous year. The preliminary estimates are based on a response rate of 71% from the 2006-07 Agricultural Survey.


2 The estimates for 2005-06 are the third release of preliminary National and State level estimates for principal agricultural commodities and livestock numbers collected in the 2005-06 Agricultural Census. The estimates are based on a final response rate of 93% and implement the final methodology for handling non-response.


3 Final estimates for 2005-06 for the full range of commodities and to sub-state levels, including Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions and Statistical Local Areas (SLA), will be released in March 2008. The final estimates are not expected to differ significantly to the 2005-06 estimates in this publication.



SCOPE AND COVERAGE

4 Estimates in this publication are based on information obtained from the Agricultural Survey conducted at 30 June 2007.


5 The scope of the 2006-07 Agricultural Survey was essentially all agricultural businesses above a minimum size cut-off recorded on the Australian Business Register (ABR) maintained by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).


6 For the 2006-07 Agricultural Survey, the measure of size was the ABS's Estimated Value of Agricultural Operations (EVAO) where available; or where it was not available a Business Activity Statement (BAS) turnover size was derived. A minimum size cut-off of $5,000, based on either EVAO or BAS Turnover, was used to determine whether a unit was in-scope for the Survey.



GENERAL

7 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.



RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES (SAMPLE ERROR)

8 The estimates in this publication are based on information obtained from a sample drawn from the total farm population in scope of the collection, and are subject to sampling variability; that is, they may differ from the figures that would have been produced if all farms had been included in the Agricultural Survey. One measure of the likely difference is given by the standard error (SE), which indicates the extent to which an estimate might vary by chance because only a sample was taken. There are about two chances in three that a 'sample' estimate will differ by less than one SE from the figure that would have been obtained if all farms had responded, and about nineteen chances in twenty that the difference will be less than two SEs.


9 In this publication, 'sampling' variability of the estimates is measured by the relative standard error (RSE) which is obtained by expressing the SE as a percentage of the estimate to which it refers.


10 Most published estimates have RSEs less than 5%. For some states with limited production of certain commodities, RSEs are greater than 10%. Estimates that have an estimated RSE between 10% and 25% are annotated with the symbol '^'. These estimates should be used with caution as they are subject to sampling variability too high for some purposes. Estimates with an RSE between 25% and 50% are annotated with the symbol '*', indicating that the estimate should be used with caution as it is subject to sampling error too high for most practical purposes. Estimates with an RSE greater than 50% are annotated with the symbol '**', indicating that the sampling variability causes the estimates to be considered too unreliable for general use. Separate indication of the RSEs of all estimates is available on request.


11 A table with RSEs for the principal commodities in this publication follows:

Relative standard error of principal commodities - At 30 June 2007
NSW
Vic.
QLD
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Barley for grain, production
5.4
4.7
18.8
2.6
3.3
7.2
na
67.0
2.0
Canola, production
12.1
11.0
77.4
5.9
6.5
19.3
na
-
4.6
Cotton lint, production
6.8
na
7.5
na
-
na
na
na
5.4
Grain sorghum, production
8.2
59.6
8.4
na
-
na
38.5
-
6.3
Lupins for grain, production
17.5
17.1
53.8
7.3
5.8
48.7
na
-
5.2
Oats for grain, production
11.4
9.2
32.8
9.8
6.5
11.8
na
48.6
4.6
Rice for grain, production
13.0
-
na
na
-
na
-
-
13.0
Sugar cane cut for crushing, production
12.8
na
4.4
na
4.0
na
na
na
4.1
Wheat for grain, production
3.9
4.7
9.8
2.2
2.5
9.5
na
43.6
1.7
Total milk cattle
4.8
3.8
6.6
8.6
14.9
6.1
65.2
70.7
2.7
Total meat cattle
2.4
3.4
3.0
4.8
5.2
5.2
6.1
18.3
1.7
Total sheep and lambs
3.0
3.1
5.3
2.5
2.7
4.5
55.5
19.0
1.4
Total pigs
11.5
5.3
6.5
9.9
7.5
10.6
63.8
na
4.1
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
na not available



ABS DATA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

12 As well as the statistics included in this and related publications, the ABS may have other relevant data available on request. Inquiries should be made to either the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Linda Falzari on (03) 6222 5939.



GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

13 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated. Without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.



RELATED PUBLICATIONS

14 A range of publications relevant to the Agriculture sector are produced by the ABS, including:

  • Agricultural Commodities, Australia, cat. no. 7121.0
  • Agricultural Survey, Apples and Pears, Australia, cat. no. 7121.0.55.002
  • Australian Wine and Grape Industry, cat. no. 1329.0
  • Livestock and Meat, Australia, cat. no. 7218.0.55.001
  • Livestock Products, Australia, cat. no. 7215.0
  • Natural Resource Management on Australian Farms, cat. no. 4620.0
  • Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, cat. no. 7501.0
  • Value of Selected Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, cat. no. 7502.0
  • Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, cat. no. 7503.0
  • Vineyards Estimates, Australia, cat. no. 1329.0.55.002
  • Water Use on Australian Farms, Australia, cat. no. 4618.0

15 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed in the Catalogue of Publications and Products (cat. no. 1101.0). The Catalogue is available from any ABS office or the ABS web site <https://www.abs.gov.au>. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the web site which details products to be released in the week ahead.