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Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry at a glance 2012
Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry at a glance2012
Commonwealth of Australia 2012
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Cataloguing data
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, May.
ISBN 978-1-921575-51-8 (printed) ISBN 978-1-921575-52-5 (online)
ABARES project: 43091
Internet
Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry at a glance 2012 is available at daff.gov.au/about/publications/australias_agriculture,_fisheries_and_forestry_at_a_glance_2012
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestryPostal address GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601Switchboard +61 2 6272 2000Facsimile +61 2 6272 2001Web daff.gov.au
Inquiries regarding the licence and any use of this document should be sent to [email protected].
The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has exercised due care and skill in the preparation and compilation of the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence, for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon any of the information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Contents
1Overview
Agriculture at a glance1
Agricultural production1
Farm incomes
1
Agricultural exports1
Productivity in Australian agriculture4
Climate
6
Recent climate
6
Climate change and agriculture8
Water
9
Water availability9
Water quality
10
Water use in agriculture10
Water trading
11
Soil
12
Land use
13
Land management practices15
Vegetation
17
Pests and diseases19
Weeds
20
Fisheries at a glance21
Fishing zones
21
Fisheries production21
Fisheries exports and imports24
People in fisheries26
Climate change and fisheries26
Fish stocks and fisheries management27
Forestry at a glance29
Forest products
31
Exports and imports31
People in forestry34
Water and forests35
Biodiversity conservation35
Forest pests and diseases36
Rural communities at a glance37
Rural communities and adaptation to change37
Opportunities for rural and regional communities37
Sector summaries40
Wheat
40
Coarse grains
42
Rice
44
Cotton
46
Oilseeds
47
Sugar
49
Wool
51
Beef and veal
53
Pig meat
55
Sheep meat
57
Poultry meat
59
Egg production
60
Dairy products
62
Horticulture
64
Wine and wine grapes65
Food
67
Overview
Agriculture, fisheries and forestry make an important contribution to Australia's economic prosperity. The industries recorded a combined gross value of production of $52.1 billion in 2010-11 and accounted for 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product.
Around 60 per cent of our agricultural production is exported, generating $32.4 billion in 2010-11. Our major agricultural exports are wheat, beef, wool, dairy products, cotton and wine.
Agriculture and forestry occupy 63 per cent of Australia's 7.7 million square kilometre landmass. Our fisheries, although based largely inshore, use an Exclusive Economic Zone of approximately 10 million square kilometres.
Together, agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries employed 351 000 people in 2010-11.
Agriculture at a glanceAgricultural production
In 2010-11 the total gross value of farm production is estimated to have increased by 21 per cent, to $48.2 billion, compared with the previous year. The size of the national sheep flock was 74 million head, the national cattle herd had 29 million head, and grains and oilseeds were grown on 24 million hectares of land. Production of wool was 429 000 tonnes (greasy equivalent), while milk production was around 9.1 billion litres and sugar production was 3.6 million tonnes.
There were 134 184 agricultural establishments in 2009-10, the latest year for which data is available.
Farm incomes
Favourable seasonal conditions led to increased crop and livestock production in 2010-11. These factors, combined with higher prices, saw farm cash incomes rise in 2010-11 to around $117 300 per farm for broadacre industries. For dairy farms, average farm cash incomes rose in 2010-11 to around $141 000 per farm.
Agricultural exports
Australian agriculture is export oriented. The total value of farm exports in 2010-11 was $32.4 billion. Wheat, beef and veal, and wool were the three largest agricultural exports in 2010-11.
Over the past 20 years there has been a shift in emphasis from European to Asian markets. This trend is expected to continue as income growth in countries such as China and ASEAN countries increases demand for agricultural products.
Farm sector indicators
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Gross value of farm production
Crops
$m
24 237
22 769
21 119
27 106
Livestock
$m
19 516
19 149
18 537
21 057
Total
$m
43 752
41 918
39 656
48 162
Farm costs
$m
37 137
36 631
34 483
36 793
Net cash income a
$m
10 834
5 854
9 967
16 315
Net value of farm production b
$m
6 615
5 287
5 173
11 370
Value of farm exports (fob)
Crops
$m
13 070
17 001
15 231
17 621
Livestock
$m
14 500
15 147
13 318
14 823
Total
$m
27 570
32 148
28 550
32 444
Farm price indexes (1997-98 = 100)
Prices received by farmers
index
142
132
125
143
Prices paid by farmers
index
155
149
141
145
Farmers' terms of trade
index
91
89
89
99
Crop area and livestock numbers
Grains and oilseeds area
'000 ha
23 204
24 084
23 793
24 112
Sheep
million
77
73
68
74
Cattle
million
27
28
27
29
Employment
Agriculture
'000
302
322
325
307
Forestry and logging
'000
8
8
7
6
Commercial fishing
'000
14
9
11
12
Total portfolio, incl. service
'000
354
362
369
351
Total Australia
'000
10 684
10 892
11 027
11 355
a Gross farm cash income less total cash costs. b Gross value of farm production less total farm costs.
Sources: ABARES; Australian Bureau of Statistics
Agricultural export summary
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
$m
$m
$m
$m
Barley
1 496
1 321
1 093
1 295
Beef and veal
4 190
4 857
3 953
4 328
Canola
303
595
583
855
Cheese
968
796
715
731
Cotton
466
500
755
1 367
Cottonseed
8
19
46
85
Dairy - excluding cheese
1 796
1 885
1 372
1 614
Horticulture a
733
903
798
715
Lamb
803
925
916
1 033
Live cattle
446
538
550
499
Live sheep
286
339
297
346
Mutton
443
482
433
403
Pig meat
128
124
109
106
Rice
110
143
59
183
Sugar
1 006
1 338
1 887
1 436
Wheat
2 990
5 028
3 692
5 516
Wine
2 683
2 428
2 164
1 957
Wool
2 796
2 322
2 306
3 048
Other
5 918
7 603
6 824
6 929
Total farm exports
27 570
32 148
28 550
32 444
a Comprises mainly fresh fruit and vegetables.
Gross value of agriculture, fisheries and forestry production, 2010-11
Productivity in Australian agriculture
Given limited availability of land and water for agriculture, long-term growth in food production largely depends on productivity growth (increases in output in excess of additional input use).
Productivity growth is also the main way farmers offset rising costs and maintain profitability in the long term. This is because the terms of trade, a ratio of prices farmers receive to prices paid for inputs, has declined over time.
Australian agricultural exports, 2010-11
Over the past 33 years productivity growth in the broadacre farm sector, which covers dryland cropping and livestock, has averaged 1.2 per cent a year. Broadacre farmers have reduced their use of inputs by around 0.8 per cent a year and increased outputs by 0.5 per cent a year.
The rate of productivity growth of the cropping industry has slowed since the mid-1990s, while livestock industries have seen an increase in productivity. It is likely that recent droughts have had more effect on the cropping industry than on livestock industries.
Broadacre total factor productivity and the farmer terms of trade
Productivity growth in the dairy industry has averaged 0.3 per cent a year over the past 32 years. In contrast to broadacre industries, increased use of inputs, such as fodder, is driving output growth as dairy farms become more intensive.
Annual broadacre total factor productivity growth, by industry
Climate
Australia is a generally warm and dry continent with unreliable rainfall, both in distribution and timing. Recurring droughts and floods are natural features of the climate. Australia's distinct climate zones are:
subtropical and tropical regions to the north and north-east with most rainfall in the summer
temperate regions to the south with most rainfall in the winter
grassland and desert regions in the middle of the continent with irregular rainfall
areas of high rainfall on much of the coastal fringes and in the eastern ranges.
These climate zones influence agricultural land use. The tropical north is suited to extensive grazing (principally cattle), intensive horticulture (including vegetables) and sugar cane. The temperate regions support grain cropping and livestock production, while low-density grazing (mainly cattle) is found in the drier central regions.
Irrigation areas occur across all climate zones and these support the production of fruit, vegetables, dairy and many other intensive agricultural activities.
Climate zones
Recent climate
Australia's second wettest year on record was 2011 and January 2010 to December 2011 was the wettest two-year period on record. La Nia events in late 2010 to early 2011 and in late 2011 to early 2012 contributed to widespread heavy rainfall. Numerous extensive and significant floods caused damage to agriculture in some areas.
Despite significant flooding, production conditions were generally favourable for most of 2010 and 2011. Winter 2011-12 crop yields were the highest on record. Heavy rainfall increased soil moisture reserves and refilled most major storages in the Murray-Darling Basin, with total storage capacity at 90 per cent by March 2012. The increased water in storages is likely to benefit irrigated industries. Improved soil moisture will provide ideal conditions for crop and pasture growth in many areas, but there are some significant soil moisture deficiencies in parts of south-west Western Australia and western Victoria. Producers in these areas will be more reliant on in-crop rainfall.
Widespread heavy rainfall ended the prolonged drought conditions experienced since 2002. The Australian Government's Exceptional Circumstances declarations have ceased in all regions. Long-term rainfall deficiencies remain in south-west Western Australia, an area that has experienced a drying trend since the 1950s.
Rainfall trends, 1997-2011
Note: Autumn-winter rainfall deciles for the 15 years from 1997-2011 (compared with the rainfall record from 1900 to the present).
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Climate change and agriculture
Australia's climate is changing as part of a long-term global trend associated with rising greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Since 1950 there has been a 0.9C warming nationally and eastern and south-western Australia have become significantly drier. Climate change is expected to continue and potentially accelerate throughout the twenty-first century, presenting both challenges and opportunities for Australian agriculture.
The effects of climate change will vary across sectors, regions and production systems. Nationally, an increasing incidence of extreme weather events (such as drought and floods) is likely to pose significant challenges to agriculture.
Farmers need information systems that will help them identify the effects of climate change and assess the viability of adaptation options alongside other business management risks. Strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture will play an increasingly important role as Australia moves toward lowering emissions.
Agriculture is the main source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions in Australia. According to the National Greenhouse Accounts, agriculture in 2009 produced 84.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent about 16 per cent of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. This figure excludes land use, land use change and forestry activities. Most agricultural emissions come from livestock (methane), burning of savannas and nitrous oxide emissions from soils.
Change in mean temperature, 1960-2011
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Further information
Climate variability: bom.gov.au/climate
Climate change: climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au; bom.gov.au/climate/change; climatechange.gov.au
Australia's National Greenhouse Accounts: climatechange.gov.au/government/initiatives/national-greenhouse-accounts.aspx
Water
Long-term average annual rainfall across Australia varies from less than 300 millimetres per year in central Australia to more than 3000 millimetres per year in far north Queensland.
Australia's average rainfall is approximately 3.7 million gigalitres of water per year (a gigalitre is a billion litres). Of this approximately:
89 per cent (3.29 million gigalitres) evaporates back into the atmosphere, mainly through vegetation
9 per cent (350 000 gigalitres) runs off into streams, rivers and storages
2 per cent (65 000 gigalitres) drains below the root zone to recharge groundwater aquifers and rivers.
Of all the inhabited continents, Australia has the lowest proportion of rainfall going into its rivers and aquifersonly 11 per cent compared with a world average of 65 per cent. The difference in flow rate between wet and dry years in Australian rivers is more than twice that of European rivers.
Water availability
About 65 per cent of runoff occurs in far north Australia and coastal Queensland. Only 6.8 per cent of Australia's runoff is in the Murray-Darling Basin, although the region uses more than 50 per cent of Australia's water. Seasonal distribution of rainfall also varies widely. Runoff in northern Australia is mostly in the monsoonal wet season. Runoff in the Murray-Darling Basin is spread throughout the year.
Irrigation is a well-established and important feature of the agricultural landscape, especially in the Murray-Darling Basin. Water use for irrigation, industry and urban needs has placed pressure on water-dependent ecosystems. The challenge is to balance the use of water for production purposes, while maintaining water quality and conserving the natural environment. A national program of water reform aims to achieve this balance.
Australia has more than 500 large dams supplying around 84 000 gigalitres of water for irrigation, industry, hydro-electricity and urban use.
River Murray system inflows have been below average for eight out of the past 10 years and the 2006-07 financial year was the driest on record. Rainfall across the entire Basin was very much above average during 2010 and 2011. Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin were at approximately 90 per cent of capacity at March 2012, with inflows and water storage well above the long-term average.
Long-term average runoff from each drainage division
Water quality
The natural cycle of drought and flood across much of Australia has resulted in stream flows that are highly variable, both seasonally and annually. Variable flow affects water quality, particularly where water harvesting and water use increase the variation in stream flow.
Risks to water quality include the effects of salt, acid sulphate minerals and algal blooms.
The recent drought has caused a general reduction in the amount of salt in Australia's major rivers, because of an overall decrease in recharge to groundwater. High rainfall and flooding in eastern Australia in 2010-11 and 2011-12 have the potential to contribute to salinity. This could occur through the rise in water tables and the drainage of salt from floodplains that have been dry for over a decade.
Water use in agriculture
Agricultural industries are the major consumer of water in Australia, representing 52 per cent of Australian water consumption in 2009-10. Of the water used for agriculture, 90 per cent (6596 gigalitres) was used for irrigating crops and pastures and 10 per cent (763 gigalitres) for other agricultural purposes.
Less than 1 per cent of agricultural land in Australia was irrigated in 2009-10. However, irrigated agriculture accounted for 29 per cent of Australia's gross value of agricultural production.
The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) for Australia was $11.5 billion in 2009-10. The three commodities with the highest GVIAP in Australia were vegetables ($2.4 billion), fruit ($2.2 billion) and dairy production ($1.8 billion).
Crops with the highest irrigation water use in 2009-10 were: livestock grazing (26 per cent of total irrigation water use), cotton (13 per cent), sugar cane (11 per cent), fruit (10 per cent), cereal crops other than rice (9 per cent), hay (8 per cent), grapes (8 per cent), vegetables (6 per cent), rice (4 per cent), other broadacre crops (2 per cent) and nursery production (1 per cent).
Water trading
Water markets play an important role in allowing water to be moved to where it is most needed. Need may be shaped by seasonal water availability and commodity prices.
In the southern Murray-Darling Basin, trade has tended to move water use from upstream areas to downstream irrigation areas, shifting use from dairy pastures, rice and other annual crops to perennial horticulture and grapevines.
Gross value of irrigated agricultural production and irrigation water use in Australia
When water is in short supply, or in times of drought, farmers have used a range of risk management options, such as reducing planting areas, planting less water-intensive crops and dryland cropping. When water availability and commodity prices are favourable, production of annual irrigated crops such as rice and cotton has increased.
Further information:
Murray-Darling Basin Authority: mdba.gov.au
Bureau of Meteorology (water): bom.gov.au/water
Bureau of Meteorology (drainage and river basins): bom.gov.au/hydro/wr/basins
Water use on Australian farms: abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4618.0
National Water Commission (water trade): nwc.gov.au/markets/trading
Soil
The agricultural landscape includes a wide range of soil types, from old, deeply weathered and infertile soils to younger, more fertile soils. Soil types, their relative area and major uses in Australia include:
weakly developed soils (40 per cent), widespread but limited to sheep and cattle grazing
gradational soils (29 per cent), including earthy soils and those dominated by carbonate, primarily used for horticulture and grazing
soils with contrasting texture (17 per cent), used for forest and cereal production in temperate areas and for beef cattle grazing in tropical areas
cracking clays (12 per cent), primarily used for grazing and limited agriculture where rainfall is adequate
wet soils (2 per cent), saturated for prolonged periods, which require drainage before agricultural use, including for sown pastures and sugar cane
organic soils (less than 1 per cent), including peaty soils, mainly in the world heritage site in south-west Tasmania
sandy soils (less than 1 per cent), characterised by a build-up of organic matter, iron and aluminium. They have limited use because of low fertility, poor water retention and seasonal waterlogging.
Compared with soils in the northern hemisphere, Australian soils have less organic matter, low amounts of phosphorous and other nutrients, and poorer structure resulting in reduced nutrient storage and water-holding capacity.
Important soil-management issues include erosion (wind and water), salinisation (dryland and irrigation), acidification and compaction. Soils are managed in various ways, including maintaining ground cover and windbreaks, avoiding the use of steep slopes, applying fertilisers (mainly phosphorus and nitrogen) and by using lime.
Australian soil types
Further information
Soil Health Knowledge Bank: soilhealthknowledge.com.au
State of the environment 2011 (soil condition): environment.gov.au/soe/2011/report/land/2-2-soil.html#s2-2
Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program: clw.csiro.au/aclep
Australian Soil Resource Information System: asris.csiro.au
Sustainable resource management (soils): daff.gov.au/natural-resources/soil-land-salinity
Climate Change Research Program (soil carbon): daff.gov.au/climatechange/australias-farming-future/climate-change-and-productivity-research/soil_carbon
Land use
Agriculture occupies 456 million hectares or almost 59 per cent of the continent; this includes livestock grazing, dryland and irrigated agriculture, but not timber production. Dryland grazing on natural and modified pastures occupies 429 million hectares or 56 per cent of the continent, largely in arid and semi-arid areas. In the past two decades the area of land used for grazing has decreased, while the area used for cropping and horticulture has increased.
Minimal use, nature conservation and other protected areas, including Indigenous uses, occupy 283 million hectares or 36 per cent of Australia's land mass.
Summary of Australian land use 2005-06
Land use
Area ('000 hectares)
Percentage (%)
Grazing
428 898
55.7
Minimal use
124 272
16.2
Other protected areas, including Indigenous uses
101 536
13.2
Nature conservation
56 924
7.4
Dryland cropping and horticulture
25 662
3.3
Timber production
13 824
1.8
Water
12 562
1.6
Intensive uses
3 132
0.4
Irrigated cropping and horticulture
1 682
0.3
Unknown
224
0.0
Total
768 715
100
Further Information
Australian Collaborative Land Use and Management Program: adl.brs.gov.au/landuse/
ABARES publications (land use): daff.gov.au/abares/publications_remote_content/publication_topics/land_use
Land use in Australia, 2005-06
Land management practices
Land management practices are the means by which land use objectives are achieved. For agricultural uses this includes cultivation methods, crop residue management, soil pH management, nutrient application, lime and dolomite application, and ground cover management.
Sustainable land management practices benefit soil health and soil productivity; they can also reduce wind and water erosion and loss of soil carbon. Data for some practices have been collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics since the mid-1990s.
Farmers have significantly reduced cultivation for broadacre crops and increased the retention of crop residues, practices which help reduce soil erosion and increase soil carbon. The area of broadacre cropping not cultivated before sowing has almost quadrupled from 21 per cent of the total area cropped in 1995-96 to 76 per cent in 2009-10. The area of crop residue left intact has also risen, from 22 per cent in 1995-96 to 68 per cent in 2009-10.
The application of lime and/or dolomite to soil is used to reduce soil acidity and improve soil productivity. The number of cereal growing businesses applying lime or dolomite to their holdings has increased from 8 to 19 per cent. Much smaller increases have occurred in the dairy and horticultural industries.
Cultivation in Australia
Soil acidity management in Australia
Further Information
Sustainable farm practices: nrm.gov.au/about/caring/priorities/sustainable.html
Land management and farming in Australia, 2009-10: abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4627.0
Land management and farming in Australia, 2007-08: abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/allprimarymainfeatures/C3FC0BDD85E571DBCA2578B50011D983?opendocument
Agricultural commodities in Australia, 2000-01: abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/allprimarymainfeatures/C2F60E87034AB0A8CA25709E003BA503?opendocument
Vegetation
Australia's native vegetation estate comprises shrublands and heathlands (37 per cent), native grasslands and minimally modified pastures (33 per cent), and native forests and woodlands (19 per cent). The remaining 10 per cent of the continent comprises non-native vegetation, such as annual crops and modified pastures (9 per cent), and plantations (0.2 per cent).
Native vegetation clearing has occurred in the intensive agricultural zone. In these areas native vegetation has been replaced with crops and modified pastures, forest plantations and horticultural trees and shrubs. In these landscapes remnants of native vegetation and non-native vegetation exist as a mosaic of vegetation types. In the extensive agricultural zone (including rangelands) much of the native vegetation remains and supports pastoral industries. The clearing of native vegetation has declined since the 1990s as states and territories introduced regulatory controls.
Vegetation management can profoundly affect landscape condition, soil health and the supply of ecosystem goods and services, such as food, fibre and water production. Vegetation management can also affect climate change mitigation and adaptation. The importance of managing vegetation for ecosystem goods and services is reflected in the on-the-ground investments being made through conservation programs, land clearing controls and environmental management systems.
At a broad scale, vegetation condition can be assessed using the Vegetation Assets, States and Transitions (VAST) classification framework. The classification indicates that the greatest extent of least modified native vegetation is in the centre and north of Australia. The most modified and replaced vegetation is in the intensive use areas of the continent.
Australian vegetation extent
Australian vegetation condition
Further information
ABARES vegetation condition tool: adl.brs.gov.au/VAST/
Vegetation Assets, States and Transitions: accounting for vegetation condition in the Australian landscape: adl.brs.gov.au/brsShop/data/vast_report.pdf (pdf 419kb)
State of the environment 2011 (vegetation): environment.gov.au/soe/2011/report/land/2-3-vegetation.html#s2-3
Pests and diseases
It is not possible to eradicate the many endemic pest animals and diseases found across Australia. Efforts instead focus on cost-effective ways to reduce damage caused by pest species.
Wild dogs, rabbits, foxes, pigs, pest birds and mice cost agriculture around $745 million in 2009 in damages and expenditure on management, administration and research. Major agricultural impacts of pest animals include:
competition for grazing and land degradation by rabbits and feral goats
attacks on livestock by wild dogs, foxes and feral pigs
damage to grain and fruit crops by mice and birds.
Introduced insects, such as cattle ticks and aphids, cost agriculture more than $5 billion a year in production losses and $1 billion in control costs. Economic modelling suggests that an outbreak of karnal bunt, a fungal disease affecting wheat, would cause an immediate loss of $295 million in exports a year.
Biosecurity and environment protection authorities use control measures at Australia's borders to reduce the risk of new pests and diseases becoming established in Australia. They also conduct risk assessments to decide which exotic species can be imported and how they should be kept.
Further information
Pests, diseases and weeds: daff.gov.au/natural-resources/invasive; daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/pests-diseases-weeds
Plant pests/diseases: planthealthaustralia.com.au
Animal pests/diseases: animalhealthaustralia.com.au
Weeds
Some of the many exotic plant species introduced into Australia since European settlement have become weeds. Weeds contaminate crops, displace pasture plants and compete with crop and pasture plants for water and nutrients. Weeds also harbour diseases and insect pests, reduce livestock carrying capacity and condition, and can be toxic to livestock.
Weed damage and control costs Australian agriculture more than $4 billion a year. Farmers see weed control as one of their highest priorities in preventing long-term land degradation. The most effective means of weed control are prevention, early detection and eradication. Once weeds become established, farmers can use control methods to reduce damage to crops, livestock and the environment.
Australia is a leader in the biological control of weeds. Biocontrol provides exceedingly high benefit-to-cost ratios and reduces reliance on herbicides and other less desirable management practices. However, not all weeds are suitable for biological control.
The Australian Weeds Strategy identifies priorities for weed management across the nation. To support this strategy the Weeds of National Significance initiative provides a framework for the control of individual weed species.
Invasion curve for weeds
Further information
Weeds: weeds.gov.au; www.daff.gov.au/natural-resources/invasive
Fisheries at a glanceFishing zones
The Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends from 12 nautical miles offshore to 200 nautical miles off the coast of Australia. It is the world's third largest EEZ, covering around 10 million square kilometres and spanning the tropics to Antarctic waters.
The Australian Fishing Zone extends from 3 nautical miles offshore to the limit of the EEZ (excluding Antarctic waters) and is defined in Australian Government legislation. Australia also has rights to the continental shelf beyond the EEZ.
Fisheries production
In 2009-10 the gross value of Australian fisheries production was $2.2 billion. This included the harvest of wild stocks and production from aquaculture. The highest value fisheries product was salmonids at $369.1 million, representing 17 per cent of the gross value of fisheries production. This was followed by rock lobster ($368.8 million, 17 per cent), prawns ($324 million, 15 per cent), abalone ($180 million, 8 per cent) and tuna ($125 million, 6 per cent).
The species produced in Australia in largest volumes was sardines, a relatively low value product. These species together accounted for 62 per cent of Australia's fishery production.
In 2009-10 the gross value of Australian aquaculture production was $870 million, representing 40 per cent of the gross value of Australian fisheries production.
Together salmonids, tuna, prawns, edible oysters and pearl oysters represented 87 per cent ($753 million) of the value of aquaculture production, with salmonids accounting for 42 per cent of that total.
Australian Exclusive Economic Zone and fishing zone
Gross value of production of Australian fisheries, by sector, 2000-01 to 2009-10
Australian fisheries production, by sector and state
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10 a
$m
$m
$m
$m
State wild catch fisheries
New South Wales
87
89
79
81
Victoria
75
68
54
48
Queensland
207
208
223
222
Western Australia
352
324
291
272
South Australia
219
206
219
201
Tasmania
188
166
176
172
Northern Territory
29
33
34
31
Total
1 157
1 093
1 077
1 026
Aquaculture
New South Wales
46
48
49
52
Victoria
20
17
15
17
Queensland
72
75
84
101
Western Australia
129
123
101
96
South Australia
208
262
246
193
Tasmania
306
321
351
392
Northern Territory
25
23
21
25
Total
806
869
867
877
Commonwealth fisheries
294
289
315
317
Total value b
2 217
2 206
2 214
2 196
a Preliminary. b Total value has been adjusted to exclude southern bluefin tuna caught in the Commonwealth southern bluefin tuna fishery, which is input to farms in South Australia. This avoids double counting.
Fisheries production, by category and species
2008-09
2009-10 a
$m
tonnes
$m
tonnes
Fish
Tuna
187
13 699
125
10 957
Salmonids
326
30 036
369
31 915
Other
463
115 738
461
119 736
Total
977
159 473
955
162 607
Crustaceans
Prawns
290
24 186
324
27 034
Rock lobster
415
12 203
380
10 141
Crab
58
5 314
56
5 185
Other
8
443
19
978
Total
771
42 146
779
43 339
Molluscs
Abalone
189
5 612
180
5 176
Scallops
26
7 599
26
7 466
Oysters
93
14 227
100
14 871
Squid
8
1 856
10
1 627
Other
114
4 702
126
4 715
Total
430
34 001
442
33 792
Other
37
1 889
19
2 021
Total value
2 214
237 508
2 196
241 758
a Preliminary. Numbers may vary due to rounding.
Fisheries exports and imports
In 2010-11 the value of Australian exports of all fisheries products (edible and non-edible) totalled $1.2 billion. Rock lobster was the most valuable export species by value, which together with pearls, tuna and prawns accounted for 82 per cent of Australian total export value of fisheries products.
Value of Australian fisheries exports and imports, 2000-01 to 2010-11
Hong Kong ($394 million) was Australia's main edible seafood export destination (excluding live products), followed by Japan ($225 million), China ($143 million), Singapore ($41 million) and the United States ($35 million).
Australian exports of edible fisheries products, by destination (by value), 2010-11
Over the past decade Australia has become a net importer of fish products in value terms. In 2010-11 the value of Australian imports of all fisheries products (edible and non-edible) totalled $1.5 billion; edible products accounted for $1.3 billion of that total, or approximately 83 per cent.
Major sources for Australian edible imports, excluding live products, were Thailand ($340 million), New Zealand ($211 million), China ($186 million) and Vietnam ($162 million). Prepared and preserved fish, mainly tuna, accounted for approximately 70 per cent of the total value of edible fisheries products imported from Thailand. The major import products from New Zealand were frozen fish fillets, and fresh and chilled whole fish. The major import from Vietnam was frozen fish fillets, and from China, prawns.
Australian imports of edible fisheries products, by selected countries (by value), 2010-11
People in fisheries
In 2006, approximately 16 000 people were employed in commercial fishing, aquaculture, fish processing and wholesaling activities. Support industries that rely on income created from commercial fishing also provide employment in transport, mechanical services and retailing.
Remote regions, such as north-west and northern Australia, have a greater proportion of the workforce in the fishing industry compared with other parts of the country.
Climate change and fisheries
It is difficult to predict how climate change will affect commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishing activities and aquaculture industries in Australia. Climate change is raising sea levels, ocean acidification and sea surface temperature, especially off southeastern Australia. It may also affect ocean currents and wind patterns, and increase the frequency and intensity of storms and tropical cyclones.
Employment in the commercial fishing industry, 2007 a
Aquaculture
Fishing b
Seafood processing
Fish wholesaling
Total employment
New South Wales
709
1 106
203
1 039
3 057
Victoria
280
514
259
859
1 912
Queensland
551
1 460
273
1 037
3 321
South Australia
325
1 152
357
452
2 286
Western Australia
766
1 003
509
460
2 738
Tasmania
935
643
385
295
2 258
Northern Territory
62
222
15
43
342
Australian Capita Territory
0
7
0
17
24
Australia
3 628
6 107
2 001
4 202
15 938
a Based on ANZSIC 2006 classification, b Includes fishing, hunting and trapping (not elsewhere specified).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australia's fishing and aquaculture industries will have to adapt to changes in both physical environment and marine life, including where species occur, their growth and productivity, migratory pathways, predator-prey relationships and the composition of marine communities. Adult albacore tuna, for example, often occur in the open ocean where sea surface temperatures are around 18C. Their distribution is expected to extend further southwards as sea surface temperatures increase and the East Australian Current strengthens.
Fish stocks and fisheries management
A fish stock is a population of fish that is largely distinct from other populations of the same species, and can be regarded as a separate entity for management or assessment purposes.
Fish stocks are managed by the Australian, state and territory governments. The Australian Government is party to several international conventions or agreements for the management of fish stocks, including those that range beyond the Australian Fishing Zone. These stocks are exploited across various Exclusive Economic Zones and on the high seas.
Commonwealth legislation relevant to fisheries management includes the Fisheries Management Act 1991, the Fisheries Administration Act 1991, Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. States and territories have similar legislation for fisheries management. Principles of conservation, sustainable yield and ecologically sustainable development are common to Australian fisheries legislation.
The status of Australian Government-managed fish stocks has improved in recent years. Of the 96 fish stocks classified in the Fishery status reports 2010, 71 were classified as not subject to overfishing (down from 73 in 2009) and 56 were classified as not overfished. A total of 53 stocks were classified as both not overfished and not subject to overfishing.
In 2010, 11 stocks were classified as overfished (down from 12 in 2009) and 8 stocks were classified as subject to overfishing (down from 10 in 2009). Of these, six stocks were classified as both overfished and subject to overfishing.
The number of fish stock classified as uncertain also dropped in 2010. Twenty-nine stocks were classified as uncertain with respect to their biomass status (down from 30 in 2009) and 17 were classified as uncertain with respect to fishing mortality status (down from 18 in 2009).
Biological stock status of Australian Government managed fish stocks, 2004 to 2010
Note: The number of stocks assessed increased from 74 (2004) to 101 (2009), then declined to 96 stocks in 2010.
The economic performance of each Australian Government-managed fishery is examined in terms of maximising the net economic returns to the Australian community. Commonwealth fisheries accounted for 15 per cent ($316.7 million) of the gross value of production of all Australian fisheries in 2009-10 ($2.20 billion).
The economic status of the majority of the most valuable Commonwealth fisheries has improved in recent years. The Northern Prawn Fishery is now earning positive net economic returns. This follows targeting of maximum economic yield in the tiger prawn fishery since 2004 and significant structural adjustment under the Securing our Fishing Future program.
The Commonwealth Trawl Sector and Scalefish Hook Sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) have recorded improved net economic returns, due to stock rebuilding and structural adjustment. The key fish stocks (in terms of value) are being managed at or near target levels. The long-term recovery of orange roughy stocks may improve net economic returns in the future. The Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector of the SESSF has maintained positive net economic returns over the last decade.
Other fisheries that are likely to have generated positive net economic returns in 2009-10 include the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery, Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery, Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery, and the Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector of the SESSF.
The Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery and the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery continue to exhibit a negative or close to negative trend in fishery level net economic returns. The current overfished state of the southern bluefin tuna stock undermines the economic status of this fishery.
Further information
Fishery status reports 2010: daff.gov.au/abares/publications
Forestry at a glance
Australia's forest estate comprises 149.4 million hectares, covering about 19 per cent of the continent. Native forests cover 147.4 million hectares and plantations 2 million hectares. Eucalypt forests comprise 78 per cent of Australia's native forests. The plantations comprise about 1 million hectares of softwood species (mainly exotic pines) and 1 million hectares of hardwood species (mainly eucalypts).
About 23 million hectares (16 per cent) of native forests are in nature conservation reserves. Privately managed freehold, leasehold and indigenous managed land accounts for 70 per cent of forested land; state, territory and other government agencies manage the remainder. Indigenous-managed land includes more than 21 million hectares of forest, or 14 per cent of Australia's total forest area.
Multiple-use public forests, 6 per cent of Australia's forests, continue to provide most of Australia's native timber products. States in which native forest harvesting occurs have management processes backed by legislation and codes of forest practice designed to maintain environmental values and the productive capacity of forests.
Most multiple-use public forests and nature conservation reserves are available to the public for recreation and tourism.
Forest area by ownership
a Some formal conservation reserves, such as freehold Indigenous national park, are included in other categories.
Forest area by forest type
'000 ha
% of area
Native forest a
Acacia
10 365
6.9
Callitris
2 597
1.7
Casuarina
2 229
1.5
Eucalypt
116 449
77.9
Mangrove
980
0.7
Melaleuca
7 556
5.1
Rainforest
3 280
2.2
Other forest
3 942
2.6
Total native forest
147 397
98.65
Plantation b
Hardwood plantation
981
0.7
Softwood plantation
1 025
0.7
Other plantation
12
0.0
Total plantation
2 018
1.35
Total forest
149 415
100.00
a 2008 area. b 2010-11 area.
Note: Values are rounded.
Sources: Australia's State of the Forests Report 2008, Bureau of Rural Sciences; National Plantation Inventory 2012 Update, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Australian forest, 2007
Note: A closed forest is one in which the tree crown cover ranges from greater than 80 to 100 per cent of the land area when viewed from above. An open forest is one in which the tree crown cover ranges from greater than 50 to 80 per cent of the land area when viewed from above. A woodland forest is one in which the tree crown cover ranges from greater than 20 to 50 per cent of the land area when viewed from above.
Forest products
Australia's forest industries contributed over $8 billion to Australia's gross domestic product in 2009-10. Forest product manufacturing contributes over 7 per cent to Australia's manufacturing sector value added.
In 2009-10 Australia harvested around 25.6 million cubic metres of logs from forests valued at almost $1.8 billion, with 74 per cent of the total volume harvested from plantations and the remaining 26 per cent from native forests. These logs are processed into high value timber products. In 2009-10 sales and service income from the primary forest manufacturing industry was valued at over $22 billion.
Most forest product processing in Australia is made up of coniferous (softwood) and broadleaved (hardwood), wood-based panels, paper and paperboard, and woodchips. Output from these industries fluctuates with demand and supply conditions, such as activity in the domestic housing sector, overall economic growth, and rates of plantation establishment and harvesting.
Exports and imports
The balance of payments deficit in the forest products sector is just under $2 billion, comprising almost $2.5 billion of exports and around $4.4 billion of imports in 2010-11. Woodchips are the largest contributor to the value of Australia's primary wood product exports, representing 36 per cent of the total in 2010-11.
Logs harvested
Unit
1999-2000
2004-05
2008-09
2009-10
Source a
Native broadleaved
Sawlogs and veneer logs
'000 m3
3 951
3 320
2 640
2 494
Pulplogs and other logs
'000 m3
7 142
6 546
5 099
4 122
Total
'000 m3
11 094
9 866
7 739
6 617
Plantation broadleaved
Sawlogs and veneer logs
'000 m3
149
273
168
136
Pulplogs and other logs
'000 m3
690
2 663
4 579
4 428
Total
'000 m3
839
2 936
4 746
4 564
Coniferous
Sawlogs and veneer logs
'000 m3
7 341
9 121
8 552
9 529
Pulplogs and other logs
'000 m3
5 133
5 075
4 762
4 907
Total
'000 m3
12 475
14 196
13 314
14 436
Total log harvest
'000 m3
24 408
26 998
25 799
25 616
Gross value of log production b
Native broadleaved
$m
610
640
581
511
Plantation broadleaved
$m
47
172
355
342
Coniferous
$m
708
842
823
929
Total
$m
1 364
1 653
1 759
1 782
a Includes Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics estimates for private native broadleaved. b Estimated gross value of logs delivered to mill door, excluding goods and services tax.
Forest products output and consumption
Unit
1999-2000
2004-05
2008-09
2009-10
Annual production
Sawnwood
Broadleaved
'000 m3
1 538
1 261
990
na
Coniferous
'000 m3
3 086
3 679
3 740
na
Total
'000 m3
4 624
4 940
4 730
na
Wood-based panels
Veneer
'000 m3
4
4
117
123
Plywood
'000 m3
192
156
118
120
Particleboard
'000 m3
978
944
911
928
Medium density
fibreboard
'000 m3
621
794
632
558
Total
'000 m3
1 795
1 898
1 778
1 730
Paper and paperboard
Newsprint
kt
464
443
444
427
Printing and writing
kt
535
659
723
496
Household and sanitary
kt
232
197
196
194
Packaging and industrial
kt
1 605
1 945
1 915
2 058
Total
kt
2 836
3 244
3 278
3 175
Annual consumption
Sawnwood
'000 m3
5 501
5 528
4 995
na
Wood-based panels
'000 m3
1 705
1 804
1 767
1 817
Paper and paperboard
kt
3 871
4 227
4 165
4 030
Note: See ABARES 2011, Australian forest and wood products statistics for assumptions relating to these data.
Sources: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics; Australian Bureau of Statistics; forest industry associations; private industry; state and territory forest services
Forest products trade
Unit
1999-2000
2004-05
2008-09
2009-10
Annual production
Imports
Sawnwood
'000 m3
719
671
748
846
$m
428
419
429
473
Wood-based panels
'000 m3
266
362
416
479
$m
152
228
250
289
Paper and paperboard
kt
1 410
1 743
1 744
1 886
$m
2 088
2 187
2 175
2 223
Total a
$m
3 834
4 017
4 200
4 408
Exports
Roundwood
'000 m3
1 098
864
1 377
1 638
$m
67
82
138
198
Sawnwood
'000 m3
78
293
387
349
$m
62
121
125
115
Wood-based panels
'000 m3
548
391
244
216
$m
207
153
88
98
Paper and paperboard
kt
497
811
890
1 029
$m
459
601
649
747
Woodchips
kt
4 994
5 363
4 818
5 064
$m
744
839
856
884
Total a
$m
1 846
2 140
2 261
2 474
a Excludes secondary wood products.
The value of paper and paperboard exports has increased by 24 per cent in the five years to 2010-11; these products now contribute around 30 per cent to the total value of forestry exports. Over the last five years, the fastest growing export values have been roundwood logs and recovered paper. Over the same period, values of import paper manufactures, sawnwood and wood-based panels have also grown.
Japan remains our major trading partner in forest product exports, accounting for around 30 per cent of the value in 2010-11, while New Zealand is the largest source of Australia's imports, providing around 16 per cent of the value of imports. China is emerging as a major trading partner in forest products. In 2010-11, China accounted for 22 per cent of the value of Australia's forest product exports ($544.4 million) and 15 per cent of the value of imports ($676 million).
People in forestry
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force survey, the forestry, wood, pulp and paper manufacturing industries directly employed around 66 000 people in 2010-11; this is around 12 per cent below the 75 000 people estimated to be employed in these industries in 2009-10.
Most forest sector employment is in processing industries. In 2010-11 wood product manufacturing employed around 37 000 people, and pulp and paper products around 20 000. Forestry support service industries together employed around 9 000 people. Many people are also employed in small, regional communities in the timber haulage, merchandising and importing parts of the forestry sector.
Employment in forestry and forest products sector
Unit
1999-2000
2004-05
2008-09
2009-10
Labour force a
Forestry
Forestry and logging
'000
10
8
7
6
Forestry support services
'000
4
3
4
4
Total
'000
14
11
11
9
Total agriculture, forestry and fishing
'000
432
348
369
351
Proportion of forestry and logging
%
3
3
3
3
Wood, pulp and paper manufacturing employment
Wood product manufacturing
Log sawmilling and timber dressing
'000
21
18
12
13
Other wood product manufacturing
'000
26
35
34
25
Total
'000
47
53
46
37
Pulp, paper and converted paper products
Pulp, paper and paperboard
'000
11
9
4
5
Converted paper products
'000
11
9
8
10
Other pulp, paper and converted paper
'000
8
7
7
6
Total
'000
29
24
19
20
Total wood, pulp and paper manufacturing
'000
76
77
64
57
Total manufacturing industries
'000
1 068
1 025
1 006
992
Contribution to total manufacturing
%
7
7
6
6
Total employment in forestry, wood, pulp and paper manufacturing
'000
90
88
75
66
Total Australian employment
'000
9 018
10 088
11 027
11 355
Proportion of total forestry, logging and wood manufacturing in Australian employment
%
1.0
0.9
0.7
0.6
a Labour force based on Australian and New Zealand Industry Classification 2006; annual data are the average of the total employment (full-time plus part-time) quarterly survey.
Water and forests
Much of Australia's fresh water for household, industrial and agricultural use is captured in forested catchments. More than 30 million hectares of public forests (20 per cent of the total forest area) are managed primarily for protection of biodiversity, soil and water values. More than 4 million hectares of forest are managed specifically for water supply, with other activities prohibited. Multiple-use public forests are subject to codes of practice designed to reduce soil erosion and to maintain water quality.
Historical clearing of deep-rooted native vegetation (including forests and woodlands) in the agricultural areas of Australia has caused water tables to rise. Where the groundwater is saline, a rising watertable leads to saline surface soils and streams. Strategic revegetation for environmental or commercial purposes is being used to limit movement of salt in the landscape and its effects on agricultural production and stream salinity.
Because trees can use more water than pasture, plantation expansion is a concern in catchments where water is in short supply. Plantation expansion may have a negative effect on regional water availability in some parts of the Murray-Darling Basin if these new plantations are concentrated in particular sub-catchments. However, plantation forestry is a minor land use sector across the Basin; such forests occupy a small area of the catchments in which they are located.
Wildfires increase soil erosion and reduce water quality. Natural regrowth in fire-affected catchments can reduce water yields for decades.
Biodiversity conservation
In the main native forest timber production areas the Australian and some state governments have negotiated 20-year plans for the conservation and sustainable management of Australia's native forests.
These regional forest agreements provide a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system for forest biodiversity conservation. The agreements aim to place in nature conservation reserves 15 per cent of the pre-1750 distribution of each forest type, 60 per cent of the existing distribution of each forest type if vulnerable, 60 per cent of existing old-growth forest, 90 per cent or more of high-quality wilderness forests, and all remaining occurrences of rare and endangered forest ecosystems, including rare old-growth forests.
In the five years to 2008, national representation of forests in formal nature conservation reserves increased by 1.1 million hectares to 23 million hectares16 per cent of Australia's forests. Other reserves have also been set aside for conservation purposes within forests used for the production of timber and other forest products, and in areas of private forest managed for conservation objectives. Outside formal and other conservation reserves, legislative protections and/or codes of practice protect environmental values.
Forest pests and diseases
With the exception of exotic cinnamon fungus and the myrtle rust fungus, native forest and plantation species are mostly affected by indigenous diseases, which can be widely distributed but usually do not cause severe damage.
Diseases of introduced plantation species are usually caused by exotic pests and diseases that sometimes reach epidemic proportions. Pests such as bark beetles and blue stain fungi can cause commercial damage. Managing pests and diseases in forest plantations is an ongoing cost of management to foresters.
Exotic animals (such as feral goat, hare and pig) and indigenous animals (such as kangaroo, possum and wallaby) can cause damage to forests, particularly young seedlings.
Projected changes in climate, including drier and warmer conditions, could affect growth of forests and their susceptibility to pests and diseases.
The management of pests and diseases using pesticides is highly regulated. The quantity of pesticides used in forests is less than 1 per cent of the total Australian pesticides market.
Further information
Australian forest and wood products statistics: daff.gov.au/abares/publications_remote_content/publication_series/australian_forest_and_wood_products_statistics
Australia's state of the forests report 2008: adl.brs.gov.au/forestsaustralia/publications/sofr2008.html
Rural communities at a glanceRural communities and adaptation to change
Characteristics of rural and regional Australia
The 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics' population census shows that 7.5 million peoplearound one-third of the Australian populationdo not live in capital cities.
In the food production industries, over 90 per cent of employment is in rural and regional areas.
The average age of the population is increasing at a faster rate in small towns and rural areas than in urban areas, as young people and families move to regional centres and cities. For example, the median age of farmers in 2006 was 52 years. While an ageing population may affect succession and labour supply, it offers advantages in terms of skills, maturity and experience.
Pressures on rural communities
Rural and regional Australia face pressures for change. Pressures include those brought about by natural disasters, government policies, programs or laws, and changing export requirements. Recent research has focused on the ways in which communities are affected by these pressures, and how they respond and adapt to opportunities that are presented.
Adaptive capacity of rural and regional communities
Adaptive capacity is a useful concept for understanding the potential of communities to adapt to, and cope with, changes that affect them. Adaptive capacity refers to the strengths, resources and vulnerabilities of a given community, and is strongly influenced by local context and historical processes. The ability of communities to adapt varies widely across Australia.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) uses a relative adaptive capacity index to measure how communities deal with change. The index is based on social factors, such as income, education levels, age structure, mobility, housing and employment diversity. The index draws on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2006 Census of population and housing.
Opportunities for rural and regional communities
Agritourism and food tourism
Agritourism and food tourism have attracted visitors to regional Australia for decades. Working farms or other farm or food-related businesses, including restaurants, markets and produce outlets, offer recreational and educational experiences, and natural products. These services are sometimes combined with other types of tourism, such as ecotourism or nature-based tourism.
Relative adaptive capacity
Note: Lower represents lower ranked general adaptive capacity to change, across Statistical Local Areas.
Source: Relative adaptive capacity index, developed by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the University of New England, 2011
The businesses may be open for just a season or year-round, but they all have a common theme: they help farmers stay on the farm.
Most agritourism and food tourism businesses are family run, by farmers or other individuals. Some business owners have moved or retired to the country to pursue business or lifestyle goals. Most operators are over 50 years old and many owners and managers are women. A number of businesses are run by, and employ, members of local Indigenous communities.
The average property size of agritourism and food tourism businesses is around 60 hectares and small diversified farms are common. The average time businesses have operated is 11 years.
Types of agritourism and food tourism activity
Farmers markets
Farmers markets operate regularly in many communities. At such markets farmers and food producers sell fresh farm-origin and associated value-added processed food products directly to customers.
Alternative fresh food retail markets, such as farmers markets, represent about 7 per cent of the market for fresh food in Australia. By comparison, major supermarkets represent about 50 per cent.
Farmers markets are becoming more important for both food producers and consumers of produce and gourmet foods. These markets also have the potential to strengthen community ties and boost local tourism.
Farmers markets in Australia are held more often and in more locations than in 2004, with increasing numbers of customers and stallholders. In 2011 there were over 150 farmers markets nationally.
A key factor in this growth is consumer interest in locally produced foods, in farming and food production, and in sustainable, ethical and organic production methods.
ABARES surveyed 72 farmers markets in 2011 and found that:
67 per cent were operated by not-for-profit organisations, with an average of 10 casual volunteers involved per market and less than two paid employees
75 per cent had a self-regulated policy about sourcing produce only from the local area
43 per cent were held weekly and 44 per cent monthly
69 per cent reported an increased number of stallholders since the market first opened.
Farmers markets can provide economic benefits for producers, including higher financial returns, an alternative low-cost retail outlet, an increase in their skills and capacities, and a venue to test new products.
Operators of farmers markets have developed operating principles and policies aimed at maintaining the integrity of farmers markets and consumers' trust.
Further information
Adaptive capacity of regional communities: mdba.gov.au/files/bp-kid/713-Capacity-MDB-2010_REPORT.pdf (pdf 1.14mb)
Australian food statistics 2010-11: daff.gov.au/publications
Farmers markets in rural communities: rirdc.infoservices.com.au/items/05-109
Drivers of regional agritourism and food tourism in Australia: adl.brs.gov.au/data/warehouse/pe_abarebrs99001744/Agritourism_2010_REPORT_11a.pdf (pdf 1.38mb)
Australian Farmers' Markets Association: farmersmarkets.org.au/
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (grocery prices): accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml?itemId=838251
Sector summaries
Wheat
Location
Wheat is grown in all states, primarily in the 300 to 600 millimetre rainfall belt of south-eastern and southwestern Australia. Wheat is often grown in conjunction with other grains and oilseeds and can be on mixed enterprise farms with livestock. Wheat is planted from April to July and harvested from October to January.
Industry
Production is highly dependent on rainfall between April and November. Under favourable seasonal conditions, production is generally between 24 and 25 million tonnes. An average of around 13 million hectares is planted annually.
Production since 1980-81
Highest: 27.9 million tonnes, 2010-11
Lowest: 8.9 million tonnes, 1982-83
Wheat
Wheat production, consumption, stocks, trade and prices
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Production
Mt
607
685
679
653
China
Mt
109
113
115
115
European Union
Mt
118
151
138
137
India
Mt
76
79
81
81
Russian Federation
Mt
49
64
62
42
United States
Mt
56
68
60
60
Consumption
Mt
602
645
652
656
Closing stocks
Mt
132
172
199
195
Trade
Mt
110
137
128
126
Price
US$/t
362
271
209
317
Australia
Area
'000 ha
12 578
13 530
13 881
13 645
Production
kt
13 569
21 420
21 834
27 891
Exports
kt
7 408
13 410
13 725
18 431
Egypt
kt
284
449
501
730
Indonesia
kt
1 608
2 728
2 854
3 892
Iraq
kt
198
531
635
906
Japan
kt
878
791
1 110
1 175
Korea, Rep. of
kt
694
712
826
1 197
- value
$m
2 990
5 028
3 692
5 516
Australian premium white
- pool return
A$/t
423
324
249
346
Coarse grains
Location
Barley, triticale and oats are winter crops grown primarily in the wheat belt. Grain sorghum is a summer crop grown in northern New South Wales and southern and central Queensland. A small amount of maize is also grown as a summer crop in Australia.
Industry
The main coarse grain grown in Australia is barley, used principally for livestock feed and malting. Barley selected for malting usually attracts a higher price than barley selected for feed. Production of barley was around 8.1 million tonnes in 2010-11. Between 35 and 40 per cent of Australian-grown barley typically achieves malting grade. On average, 63 per cent of all barley grown in Australia is exported.
Grain sorghum, which is used for livestock feed, is the second highest produced coarse grain in Australia. Production of sorghum was around 2.1 million tonnes in 2010-11. The percentage of grain sorghum exported is usually lower than barleyaround 27 percent of total production was exported in 2010-11.
Production since 1980-81
Highest: 15.6 million tonnes, 2003-04
Lowest: 4.0 million tonnes, 1982-83
Coarse grains
Coarse grains production
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Production
Mt
1 078
1 107
1 114
1 092
Consumption
Mt
1 057
1 079
1 107
1 126
Closing stocks
Mt
162
193
196
165
US corn price (fob Gulf, Oct-Sept)
US$/t
218
173
163
277
Australia
Barley
Area
'000 ha
4 902
5 015
4 422
3 740
Production
kt
7 160
7 997
7 865
8 145
Exports
kt
4 051
3 898
4 234
4 625
- value
$m
1 496
1 321
1 093
1 295
Price - feed barley
A$/t
308
227
155
217
Grain sorghum
Area
'000 ha
942
767
498
674
Production
kt
3 790
2 692
1 508
2 068
Exports
kt
251
1 368
487
553
- value
$m
76
405
116
146
Oats
Area
'000 ha
1 238
870
850
832
Production
kt
1 502
1 160
1 162
1 142
Triticale
Area
'000 ha
360
323
350
330
Production
kt
450
363
545
685
Maize
Area
'000 ha
68
65
59
61
Production
kt
387
376
328
351
Rice
Location
Rice is produced mainly in southern New South Wales where it is planted in October and harvested in March. Small amounts of rice are grown in northern Victoria, northern New South Wales, Queensland and the Ord River Irrigation Area in northern Western Australia.
Industry
Rice production fell between 2002-03 and 2004-05, and again between 2006-07 and 2007-08. These declines in production generally reflected irrigation water availability.
Production since 1980-81
Highest: 1.6 million tonnes, 2000-01
Lowest: 0.02 million tonnes, 2007-08
Rice
Rice production, consumption, stocks, trade and prices
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Production (milled)
Mt
432
447
440
449
China
Mt
130
134
137
137
India
Mt
97
99
89
96
Indonesia
Mt
37
38
36
35
Bangladesh
Mt
29
31
31
33
Vietnam
Mt
24
24
25
26
Consumption
Mt
428
436
437
449
Closing stocks
Mt
80
91
94
96
Trade
Mt
29
29
31
35
Prices
Thailand
US$/t
551
609
552
515
United States
US$/t
694
1 119
791
840
Australia
Area
'000 ha
2
7
19
75
Production (paddy)
kt
18
61
197
726
Production value
$m
7
34
90
174
Exports (Apr-Mar)
kt
92
124
51
65
- value
$m
110
143
59
183
Average grower return
A$/t
414
566
457
240
Cotton
Location
Around 70 per cent of Australia's cotton is produced in New South Wales. The major production area stretches south from the Macintyre River and embraces the Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie valleys, as well as regions along the Barwon and Darling Rivers and smaller areas south. The remaining cotton is grown principally in southern and central Queensland.
Lint production since 1980-81
Highest: 898 000 tonnes, 2010-11
Lowest: 99 000 tonnes, 1980-81
Cotton production and world indicator price
Cotton production, consumption, stocks and trade
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Production
kt
26 056
23 314
22 076
24 951
Brazil
kt
1 603
1 193
1 187
1 960
China
kt
8 056
7 991
6 968
6 641
India
kt
5 226
4 921
5 008
5 531
Pakistan
kt
1 873
1 894
2 090
1 916
United States
kt
4 182
2 790
2 654
3 942
Consumption
kt
26 843
23 962
25 779
25 367
Closing stocks
Mt
13
13
10
9
Stocks to consumption ratio
%
49
55
37
36
Cotlook 'A' index
USc/lb
72.9
61.2
77.5
164.3
Australia
Area harvested
'000 ha
63
164
208
590
Lint production
kt
133
329
387
898
Exports
kt
266
260
395
505
China
kt
91
90
140
219
Chinese Taipei
kt
1
1
5
6
Indonesia
kt
74
81
83
88
Japan
kt
29
20
18
18
Korea, Rep. of
kt
14
12
34
19
Thailand
kt
43
45
75
75
- value
$m
466
500
755
1 367
Oilseeds
Location
Canola and cottonseed are the main oilseeds produced in Australia. Linseed, peanuts, soybeans, safflower and sunflower seeds are also grown in smaller quantities.
Canola is grown principally in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Cottonseed is produced in the cotton growing regions of northern New South Wales and southern and central Queensland. Most of Australia's peanut crop is produced in Queensland's South Burnett region.
Industry
Winter oilseeds (canola, linseed and safflower) are harvested between October and December, while summer oilseeds (cottonseed, sunflower, soybean and peanut) are harvested between March and April. Over the past decade, drought conditions have limited oilseed production across Australia. The most severely affected years were 2002-03 and between 2006-07 and 2007-08.
In 2010-11 around 69 per cent of the canola crop was exported. The main export markets were the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Japan and France. About one-fifth of the cottonseed crop was exported in 2010-11, valued at $8.5 million. Oilseeds are crushed for meal, animal feed and vegetable oil. Vegetable oil is used for cooking, heating and industrial purposes.
Production since 1980-81
Highest: 3.9 million tonnes, 1999-2000
Lowest: 0.3 million tonnes, 1982-83
Oilseeds
Oilseeds production
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Production
Mt
392
396
442
452
Consumption
Mt
401
402
423
442
Closing stocks
Mt
62
55
72
78
Soybean indicator price (Oct-Sep)
US$/t
549
421
429
560
Australia
Total production
kt
1 565
2 478
2 609
3 782
winter
kt
1 229
1 858
1 933
2 397
summer
kt
336
620
676
1 385
Canola
Area
'000 ha
1 277
1 693
1 712
2 093
Production
kt
1 214
1 844
1 920
2 382
Exports
kt
519
973
1 238
1 453
- value
$m
303
595
583
855
Price (Nov-Oct) delivered Melbourne
A$/t
696
525
440
557
Cottonseed
Area
'000 ha
63
164
208
590
Production
kt
188
466
547
1 269
Exports
kt
18
37
106
268
- value
$m
8
19
46
85
Sunflower seed
Area
'000 ha
48
52
27
29
Production
kt
73
55
41
44
Price (Apr-Mar)
A$/t
868
550
550
605
Sugar
Location
Around 95 per cent of Australia's sugar comes from Queensland and the remainder from northern New South Wales. Sugar cane is grown along 2100 kilometres of coastline between Mossman in Far North Queensland and Grafton in northern New South Wales. Cane production on the Ord River in Western Australia ceased in 2007.
Industry
Harvested areas of sugar cane in Australia have declined since 2002-03 because of a range of factors, including relatively low world prices, drought, cyclones, sugar cane smut (a fungal disease), urban encroachment and higher returns from alternative land uses, particularly forestry.
Production since 1980-81
Highest: 5.6 million tonnes, 1997-98
Lowest: 3.0 million tonnes, 1991-92
Sugar
Sugar production, consumption, stocks, prices and trade
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Production
Mt
166
151
159
166
Brazil
Mt
31
36
41
39
China
Mt
16
14
12
11
India
Mt
29
15
21
26
Mexico
Mt
6
5
5
5
Thailand
Mt
8
7
7
10
Consumption
Mt
160
161
163
166
Change in stocks
Mt
6
-10
-5
1
Stocks to consumption ratio
%
45
38
34
34
Price
USc/lb
11.7
14.9
21.0
27.7
Australia
Area
'000 ha
381
391
389
334
Production
kt
4 763
4 634
4 472
3 610
Average pool return
A$/t
276
334
511
444
Exports
kt
3 493
3 268
3 506
2 735
Indonesia
kt
760
594
752
583
Japan
kt
480
440
366
343
Korea, Rep. of
kt
1 038
1 043
1 201
790
Malaysia
kt
403
532
548
341
- value
$m
1 006
1 338
1 887
1 436
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics; International Sugar Organization; Queensland Sugar Limited
Wool
Location
In 2010-11 more than 80 per cent of Australia's wool clip was produced in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. About 34 per cent of wool produced in 2010-11 was superfine wool, which has a fibre diameter less than 19.5 microns. Tasmania and Western Australia have the highest concentrations of superfine wool production, with around 57 and 44 per cent of wool tested in both states falling into the superfine category.
Industry
Most Australian wool is merino wool with a fibre diameter of 19 to 22 microns. In recent years, the increased use of meat breeds has led to a higher proportion of medium to strong types of wool.
In 2010-11 Australia exported 444 000 tonnes of greasy wool, valued at around $3.05 billion. China, India and Italy were the top three export markets for Australian wool. Other wool exporters include New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.
Total wool production since 1980-81
Highest: 1031 000 tonnes, 1989-90
Lowest: 420 000 tonnes, 2008-09
Wool
Wool production, trade and prices
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Wool production
kt
2 216
2 120
1 967
1 992
Argentina
kt
65
62
61
62
Australia
kt
459
420
423
429
China
kt
399
365
368
387
New Zealand
kt
206
158
183
195
Wool exports
kt
553
484
501
507
Australia
Sheep numbers
m
77
73
68
74
Sheep shorn
m
95
86
83
85
Wool production - greasy
shorn
kt
408
371
353
368
other
kt
51
50
70
61
Total
kt
459
420
423
429
Wool exports - balance of payments basis
volume - greasy equiv.
kt
483
445
428
444
value
$m
2 796
2 322
2 306
3 048
Market indicator - clean
eastern
Ac/kg
945
794
872
1 132
western
Ac/kg
947
762
863
1 092
Auction price - greasy
Ac/kg
599
499
551
734
Beef and veal
Location
Beef production is widespread across Australia. In northern Australia most cattle grazing takes place on large properties. The typically larger properties and remote locations in the north make management practices and supplementary feeding more costly than in southern Australia. Most grazing in southern Australia takes place on smaller properties. Over the past decade, northern Australia has accounted for an increasing proportion of the Australian cattle herd.
Industry
Unlike many other major beef producing countries, Australian cattle are principally reared on pasture. In recent years, lower demand from Japan and the Republic of Korea for grain-fed beef has contributed to a fall in the number of cattle being fattened in feedlots.
Australia accounts for around 4 per cent of global beef production, but is one of the world's largest beef exporters. Around two-thirds of Australian beef production is exported, with Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea the largest markets. Chinese Taipei is another important established market, while the largest emerging markets are the Russian Federation, Indonesia, the Middle East, the Philippines and Malaysia.
Production since 1980-81
Highest: 2.2 million tonnes, 2006-07
Lowest: 1.3 million tonnes, 1984-85
Beef and veal
Beef and veal production, trade and prices
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Production
Argentina
kt
3 300
3 150
3 380
2 620
Brazil
kt
9 303
9 024
8 935
9 115
China
kt
6 134
6 132
5 764
5 600
European Union
kt
8 188
8 090
7 913
8 022
United States
kt
12 097
12 163
11 891
12 047
Australia
Cattle numbers
million
27
28
27
29
Slaughterings
'000
8 799
8 643
8 364
8 097
Production
kt
2 155
2 137
2 109
2 133
Exports (shipped weight)
United States
kt
240
282
211
160
Japan
kt
365
363
350
351
Korea, Rep. of
kt
146
113
124
139
Total
kt
930
968
899
937
- value
$m
4 190
4 857
3 953
4 328
Live cattle
'000
708
845
871
728
- value
$m
446
538
550
499
Saleyard price
Ac/kg
286
296
288
323
Pig meat
Location
Pig raising is widespread within grain producing regions in each state. The quantity of pork produced by each state is linked to major grain growing regions, but is also influenced by the size of Australia's major population centres.
The Australian pig herd was around 2.3 million head in 2010-11. Queensland has the largest pig herd at around 670 000 head, while New South Wales and Victoria each have around 500 000 head. South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania have around 385 000, 265 000 and 13 000 head, respectively.
Industry
Australian pig meat prices have been influenced by international price movements as a result of increased exposure to the global market. During the 10 years to 2010-11, Australian pig meat exports fell from 59 000 tonnes to 31 000 tonnes, while pig meat imports rose from 44 000 tonnes to 132 000 tonnes. Because feed grain is a major input into pig meat production, movements in feed grain prices affect producer profits. During the ten years to 2010-11, Australian per person pig meat consumption increased by 21 per cent to 24.5 kilograms.
Production since 1980-81
Highest: 420 000 tonnes, 2002-03
Lowest: 228 000 tonnes, 1981-82
Pig meat
Pig meat production, trade and prices
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
World
Production
China
kt
42 878
46 205
48 905
51 070
European Union
kt
22 858
22 596
22 434
22 552
United States
kt
9 962
10 599
10 442
10 186
Brazil
kt
2 990
3 015
3 130
3 195
Canada
kt
1 746
1 786
1 789
1 772
Russian Federation
kt
1 640
1 736
1 844
1 920
Australia
Pig numbers
'000
2 412
2 302
2 289
2 343
Slaughterings
'000
5 217
4 499
4 561
4 643
Production
kt
377
322
331
342
Exports
kt
39
32
30
31
Japan
kt
1
1
0
0
New Zealand
kt
10
8
7
5
Singapore
kt
21
17
14
13
- value
$m
128
124
109
106
Imports
kt
103
128
143
132
Price
- over-the-hooks market
Ac/kg
240
330
309
269
- US national indicator
USc/kg
134
137
142
178
Sheep meat
Location
Sheep meat production was once secondary to wool growing. In the three years to 2010-11, around 80 per cent of farms that ca