MEDIA RELEASE
February 12, 2008	Embargoed 11.30 am (AEDT)	10/2008
Value of agricultural production for 2006-07 falls to $34 billion as a result of drought

The overall value of Australia's agricultural production was down by 10% (to $34.2 billion) in 2006-07, according to preliminary figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

A fall in the value of crop production brought the overall agricultural production figures down. The value of crop production fell by 20% to $16.0 billion as a result of reduced production due to poor seasonal conditions. Although significantly improved prices were recorded for some crops this was not enough to offset the reduced production.

• wheat for grain fell by 51% to $2.5 billion due to decreased production (down by 59%), partly offset by increased prices (up by 17% to $237/tonne).
• barley for grain fell by 30% to $1.0 billion, with production down by 57%, partly offset by increased prices (up by 62% to $243/tonne).
• sugar cane rose to $1.2 billion, mainly due to a 21% price increase (to nearly $34/tonne).
• cotton fell by 46% to $514 million as a result of reduced production.
• rice fell by 80% to $51 million, with production down by 84%, partly offset by increased prices (up by 23% to $320/tonne).

The value of livestock slaughterings and other disposals (such as exports) rose by 3% to $12.3 billion. While the value of sheep and lambs dropped, the fall was offset by the increased value of production of other livestock.

• cattle and calves rose by 4% to $8.0 billion as disposals increased by 9% but prices fell by 4%.
• sheep and lambs fell 3% to $2.1 billion as disposals rose by 8% but prices fell by 10%.
• poultry rose by 6% to $1.3 billion as production rose by 3% combined with prices up by 2%.
• pigs rose by 6% to $944 million as disposals fell by 1% but prices increased by 7%.

The value of livestock products rose by 1% to $5.9 billion as the increased value of wool and eggs offset the reduced value of milk.

• milk fell by 5% to $3.2 billion due to reduced production.
• wool rose by 9% to $2.3 billion, with average prices up by 16% as production fell by 6%.
• eggs rose by 13% to $398 million, production rose by 1% combined with prices up by 12%.

Further details are in Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia 2006-07 (cat. no. 7501.0).