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June 28, 2006 | Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST) | 58/2006 |
Broadacre production down, livestock numbers steady: ABS
Production for many broadacre crops fell from the highs of the previous year, and livestock numbers remained steady, according to the most recent (2004-05) Agricultural Survey final estimates released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Results from the survey showed:
Crop production
- Wheat production fell by 16% to 21.9 million tonnes. The largest falls were reported in Western Australia (down 22%), Victoria (down 39%) and South Australia (down 25%).
- Barley production fell by 25% to 7.7 million tonnes, with all states reporting falls.
- Oat production fell by 36% to 1.3 million tonnes, with falls reported in the three main growing states of Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
- Cotton lint production rose by 78% to 563,000 tonnes, due to increased water availability for irrigation.
- For fruit: grape production equalled the previous year's record of 2.0 million tonnes; orange production rose by 26% to 498,000 tonnes; and banana production rose by 3% to 266,000 tonnes.
- For vegetables: potato production fell by 2% to 1.3 million tonnes; tomato production fell by 14% to 408,000 tonnes and carrot production rose by 4% to 316,000 tonnes.
Livestock production
- Sheep and lamb numbers were unchanged at 101 million head. Decreases in New South Wales and South Australia were offset by increases in Victoria and Western Australia.
- Meat cattle numbers rose slightly to 24.7 million, with increases in all states except New South Wales.
- Milk cattle numbers remained steady at 3.1 million head. Increases reported in Victoria and Tasmania were offset by falls in all other states.
- Pig numbers remained steady at 2.5 million head. Increases in New South Wales were offset by falls in all other states.
More details are in Agricultural Commodities, Australia 2004-05 (cat. no. 7121.0) available free of charge from the ABS web site <www.abs.gov.au>.
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