7503.0 - Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2009-10 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/05/2011   
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MEDIA RELEASE
31 May 2011
Embargo 11:30am (Canberra time)
67/2011

Value of Australian agriculture falls again

The value of Australian agricultural production in 2009-10 decreased by 5% to $39.6 billion compared to the previous year, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

A combination of the strong Australian dollar, decreased crop and stock sizes and increased competition drove declines in the values of key broadacre crops (down by 7% to $21.6 billion) and livestock (slaughterings and other disposals down 1% to $12.7 billion, livestock products down by 8% to $5.7) compared to 2008-09.

Key movements include:

Broadacre crops
  • Wheat - down by 21% to $4.8 billion
  • Barley - down by 27% to $1.4 billion
  • Canola - down by 17% to $840 million

Livestock
  • Cattle and calves - down by 2% to $7.3 billion
  • Milk - down by 15% to $3.4 billion
  • Sheep and lambs - up by 5% to $2.6 billion
  • Wool - up by 7% to $1.9 billion

More information can be found in Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, 2009-10 (cat. no 7503.0).

Media notes:
  • The Agricultural Census will be conducted in 2011. The information collected from the farming community via the census will play a vital role in supporting the development and monitoring of Australia's agricultural, natural resource and water policies. Find out more
  • Please ensure when reporting ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.