MEDIA RELEASE
June 25, 2007	Embargoed 11.30 am (AEST)	69/2007
Agricultural production valued at $37 billion for 2005-06: ABS

The value of Australian agricultural production was $37 billion in 2005-06, according to preliminary figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

The value of crop production rose to $19.6 billion, benefiting from good seasonal conditions during 2005-06 and increased prices:

• wheat for grain rose to $5.1 billion due to increased production and prices (up by 2% to $200/tonne).
• barley for grain rose to $1.4 billion, with increased production partly offset by reduced prices (down by 6% to $151/tonne).
• sugar cane rose to $1.1 billion, mainly due to a 7% price increase (to nearly $28/tonne).
• cotton rose to $960 million (up by 2%), as a result of increased production.

The value of slaughterings and other disposals (such as exports) fell by less than 1% to $12 billion:

• cattle and calves fell by 2% to $7.7 billion; prices rose 3% but disposals fell 4%.
• sheep and lambs rose 8% to $2.1 billion; prices remained steady and disposals rose by 9%.
• poultry dropped 6% to $1.2 billion; production was steady but the price fell by 6%.
• pigs fell by 2% to $889 million, as the price dropped by 2% and production rose by less than 1%.
  

The value of livestock products rose to $5.8 billion as a result of the increased value of milk and eggs offsetting a fall in wool.

• milk increased by 5% to $3.3 billion, due to the increase in average prices.
• wool fell by 5% to $2.1 billion, with average price down 7% as production rose by 3%.
• eggs increased by 16% to $382 million despite a 10% fall in prices.

Further details are in Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia 2005-06 (cat. no. 7501.0).

Media Note: Collection techniques for the Agricultural Census have changed, and as a result the estimated value of total Australian agricultural production in 2005-06 is not strictly comparable with previous figures.