Agricultural Production in Australia
Tom Loynachan
January 30, 2008
Agriculture in AustraliaOverview of production
• Climate
• Soils
• Crops
• Livestock
Agriculture in Australia
• Agriculture industries in Australia comprise wide variety of crops, horticulture, viticulture, dairy, fiber, fisheries and livestock
Agriculture in Australia
• Country is slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
• 3% of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product comes from agriculture
• 80% of all agricultural production is exported
• Australia remains the world's leading producer of wool, regularly supplying nearly one-third of the global total
Top Products by Values (2006-07)Millions of Australian $
Cattle and calves 6,517
Wheat 6,026
Milk 3,245
Fruit and nuts 2,915
Vegetables 2,715
Wool 2,138
Barley 1,624
Poultry 1,461
Lambs 1,348
Sugar cane 1,208
Melbourne:
370 47’ S
Springfield, MO:
370 13’ N
32 in. = 800 mm
Irrigation in Australia is a widespread and required in many areas for production of crops for domestic and export use.
The gross value of irrigated agricultural production represents around a quarter (23%) of the gross value of agricultural commodities produced in Australia in 2004-05, on less than 1% of agricultural land. Common crops produced using irrigation include rice, cotton, canola, sugar, various fruits and other tree crops and pasture, hay and grain for use in beef and dairy production.
Australian Rice Crop at Record Low
• December 04, 2007
• AUSTRALIA'S rice crop is predicted to be the smallest on record due to the long-running drought, while cotton production is set to hit a 30-year low, the chief commodity forecaster said Tuesday.
Australia Looks to GM Crops after Scorching 2007 by Staff WritersSydney (AFP) Jan 3, 2008
• Australia's agriculture minister on Thursday hailed genetically modified crops as a means to help farmers combat climate change, as data showed 2007 was the country's sixth hottest year on record.
Soils
• One of the greatest natural resources. I include soils developed on a wide range of rock types and under climatic conditions varying from the alpine zones of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, through the Mediterranean zones of southern and south-western Australia and the wet and dry tropics of Queensland, to the very low rainfall areas of the center.
Soil pH of Victoria
Crop (kilotons)
New South Wales
Victoria Queensland Western Australia
South Australia
Tasmania Total
Wheat 6714 2173 1301 6959 3382 23 20552
Barley 1070 1173 202 1511 2000 25 5981
Sorghum 739 3 1140 3 0 0 1885
Cottonseed 663 0 1140 3 0 0 1806
Canola 637 312 1 530 225 1 1706
Oats 360 420 7 588 137 8 1520
Lupins 140 30 0 1050 103 0 1323
Field peas 20 166 0 47 190 1 424
Maize 190 8 171 6 0 0 375
Chickpeas 86 20 56 29 5 0 196
Lentils 2 68 0 2 56 0 128
Broad beans 42 68 1 0 14 0 125
Sunflower seed
46 0 65 0 0 0 111
Wheat
• Australian wheat is a major competitor of US wheat exports
• Production concentrated in a narrow crescent know as the wheat belt, which receives approximately 400 to 600 mm average annual rainfall
• Grown as a ‘winter’ crop (autumn-winter-spring), often in rotation with some form of pasture
• Virtually all rainfed
• Wheat crop normally averaged 25 m tonnes (2nd to USA)
• 2007 9.8 m tonnes
1 metric tonne: = 1000 kg= a megagram (Mg)= 2205 lbs
Barley
• Produced same areas as wheat
• 60% feed barley, 40% malting barley
• >80% of malting barley exported (30% of world trade)
Barley has 3 major end uses:Feed grain - it is a preferred grain for many feedlots and stockfeed manufacturers.Malt barley - for the production of beer and other foodstuffs.Forage - for grazing, hay or silage.
Australia cultivates an abundance of nuts, vegetables, and many tropical fruits, including:
– Bananas – Apples – Potatoes – Carrots – Pineapple – Orange – Mango – Chestnuts – Tomatoes
Livestock slaughterings Thousands ('000)
Beef 8 587
Cattle exported live 797
Sheep 14 441
Lambs 17 400
Sheep exported live 6 443
Pigs 5 402
Poultry 416 000
Beef Industry
• Biggest agricultural enterprise
• >60% exported mainly to:– United States– Japan
• Benefitted recently because does not have mad cow disease
Breeds
• http://www.yf-agrivet.com.hk/english_site/livestk_prod.htm
Tropical breeds in north; temperate breeds in south
In north, large cattle stations, grazing on native pastures at low stocking
In south, more intensive grazingon smaller farms with introduced pastures and fodder crops
Pasture fed dominates but feedlots rapidly developing
Dairy
• Dairy products are Australia's fourth most valuable agricultural export
• Not heavy regulation today…which has changed over the last 30 years
• Asia and Middle East are prime markets
Pork
• Produce about 5 million pigs annually
• 0.4% of world production
• Important for local employment and consumption
Fisheries
• About 1/3 of value from aquaculture (farming of aquatic organisms), which has been steadily rising
• Main seafood exports include rock lobsters, prawns, tuna, and shellfish
Questions