9 February 2010 Embargoed 11.30am (Canberra Time) 11/2010
Reduced prices for major crops and livestock products led to a 5% fall in the overall value of agricultural production, according to preliminary figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

Preliminary figures place the value of agriculture production for 2008-09 at $41.1 billion.

Increased production of many broadacre crops was more than offset by significant reductions in major crop prices, resulting in overall crop values falling 7% to $22.1 billion.

Significant falls in the value of wool and milk saw the total value of livestock products down to $6.2 billion, a drop of 16%.

The value of livestock slaughtered rose 5% to $12.8 billion with increases in the value of cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, and poultry.

Key crop movements:

• grain sorghum, down 44% to $550.1 million
• hay, down 41% to $1.7 billion
• grapes, down 33% to $1.1 billion
• barley for grain, down 21% to $1.8 billion
• wheat for grain, up 11% to $5.9 billion

Key livestock and livestock product movements:

• sheep and lambs, up 15% to $2.5 billion
• poultry, up 14% to $1.9 billion
• cattle and calves, up 1% to $7.5 billion
• wool, down 22% to $1.8 billion
• milk, down 13% to $4.0 billion

Further details are in Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary (cat. no. 7501.0)

Media Note: When using our statistics, please cite the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.