7501.0 - Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, 2003-04  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/01/2005   
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MEDIA RELEASE

January 28, 2005
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
12/2005

Agricultural production value recovering after drought

Farmers are recovering from the drought with the value of agricultural production up 12% in 2003–04, according to preliminary figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.

The estimated gross value of Australian agricultural production was $36.6 billion for the year ended 30 June 2004 (up from $32.6 billion the previous year).

Crop production, valued at $20.2 billion, had the largest gains (up from $15.5 billion). The largest increases came from the major cereal crops with the gross value for:
  • wheat for grain up 112% (to $5.7 billion) and
  • barley for grain up 77% (to $1.7 billion).

However, livestock products fell, valued at $5.5 billion (down from $6.4 billion).
  • The gross value of wool production dropped by 28% (to $2.4 billion) as a result of both a drop in production and a fall in average price.
  • The gross value of milk production remained steady at $2.8 billion, with a drop in production offset by an increase in average price.
Slaughterings and other disposals rose, valued at $10.9 billion (up from $10.7 billion).
  • The gross value of cattle and calves slaughterings and other disposals rose by 4% (to $6.7 billion).
  • The gross value of sheep and lambs slaughterings and other disposals remained steady at $2 billion.

Further details are in Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia 2003–04 (cat. no. 7501.0).