7123.1.55.001 - Agricultural State Profile, New South Wales, 2004-05

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/07/2006

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The nature and pattern of agricultural settlement in NSW have been largely determined by rainfall, topography, the quality of soil and accessibility to markets. Many factors have since influenced this pattern including improvements in transportation, cultivation methods, seed varieties, fertilisers, soil conditioners and breeding programs.

The availability of water has been, and will remain, central to the nature and extent of the state's agricultural development. Rainfall is low and irregular over a wide area of NSW yet, at times, flooding can be a serious problem, making control of water resources essential to the development of a viable agricultural sector.

At 30 June 2005, there were an estimated 40,077 farms in NSW.

ESTABLISHMENTS WITH AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY(a), NSW, at 30 June


	Number

2001	41,951
2002	41,651
2003	41,093
2004	40,827
2005	40,077

(a) Refers to farm establishments with an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $5,000 or more.
Sources: Agriculture, Australia (cat. no. 7113.0) and Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).

The Northern Statistical Division (SD) recorded the highest number of farms in NSW at 30 June 2005 (6,172). This was followed by the Central West SD with 5,538 farms.

ESTABLISHMENTS WITH AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY(a), at 30 June 2005


Statistical Division	Number

Sydney	1,623
Hunter	2,834
Illawarra	929
Richmond-Tweed	2,921
Mid-North Coast	2,751
Northern	6,172
North Western	4,241
Central West	5,538
South Eastern	4,368
Murrumbidgee	4,613
Murray	3,763
Far West	325

New South Wales	40,077

(a) Refers to farm establishments with an EVAO of $5,000 or more.
Source: Unpublished ABS data available on request, 2005 Agricultural Survey.

This section contains the following subsection :
Agricultural industry
Land use