MEDIA RELEASE
31 May 2011	Embargo 11:30am (Canberra time)	67/2011

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.