MEDIA RELEASE
31 May 2013	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	98/2013

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that generally favourable growing conditions and increased water availability resulted in increased production of most crops in 2011-12.

Broadacre crops

Cotton, in particular, saw increased production and a record crop of 974 million kilos in 2011-12. Canola, wheat and sugar cane also grew well.




Orchard fruit and nuts and vegetables

Good weather conditions favoured certain crops such as bananas, oranges and tomatoes. However, apples in New South Wales and pears in Victoria suffered from less ideal conditions.

Livestock

Sheep flock and meat cattle numbers remained steady, while pig estimates decreased by 6 per cent nationally. Favourable seasonal conditions such as the return of irrigation water supplies to the key production areas of northern Victoria and Riverina resulted in a 6 per cent increase in national dairy cattle estimates.

Further information is available in Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2010-11 (cat.no. 7121.0), available for free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au

Media Note:

• When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
• The 2011-12 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) produces data for a range of agricultural commodity items, including broadacre cropping, horticultural production, livestock production, industry activity and land use management.