7123.1.55.001 - Agricultural State Profile, New South Wales, 2001-02  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/04/2004   
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The nature and pattern of agricultural settlement in NSW has 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 2002, there were an estimated 41,651 farms in NSW.

ESTABLISHMENTS WITH AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY(a), NSW, at 30 June
Number
1997(b)
42,758
2001
41,951
2002
41,651
(a) Refers to farm establishments with an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $5,000 or more.
(b) At 31 March.
Sources: Agriculture, Australia (cat. no. 7113.0); Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).

The Northern Statistical Division (SD) recorded the highest number of farms in NSW at 30 June 2002 (6,301). This was followed by the Central West SD with 5,603 farms.
ESTABLISHMENTS WITH AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY(a), at 30 June 2002
Statisical Division
Number
Sydney
1,794
Hunter
2,963
Illawarra
994
Richmond-Tweed
3,037
Mid-North Coast
3,118
Northern
6,301
North Western
4,347
Central West
5,603
South Eastern
4,374
Murrumbidgee
4,835
Murray
3,992
Far West
292
New South Wales
41,651
(a) Refers to farm establishments with an EVAO of $5,000 or more.
Source: Unpublished ABS data available on request, 2002 Agricultural Survey.




This section contains the following subsection :
        Land use
        Salinity
        Water use

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