Ag Mag | the agriculture newsletter

WELCOME


On behalf of the directors of the Land and Agriculture Program at the ABS, I would like to welcome you to this edition of the “Ag Mag”. In the previous edition of this newsletter we were pleased to announce that the 2009-10 Federal Budget had restored funding to the ABS. As a result of the restored funding the core of the ABS Agricultural statistics program has been maintained in a form similar to that of recent years, with a 5 yearly Agricultural Census, annual commodity data and biennial resource management statistics.

This edition marks the end of a productive year for the program, with a range of products released and variety of surveys underway or in planning, including the 2011 Agricultural Census. Specially highlighted are the preliminary results of the 2008-09 Agricultural Survey, plans for the 2010-11 Agricultural Census, as well as progress on the Land Management Practices Survey of the Great Barrier Reef catchments being conducted in northern Queensland as input to the Australian Government's Reef Rescue Program.

It is important to note that the first results of the 2008-09 Agricultural Survey were released on 10 November in Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, 2008-09. This is the first of a range of agriculture publications that will have their publication dates brought forward, which has been made possible by improvements to statistical processing systems.

If you have queries or feedback regarding the material in this newsletter or suggestions as to what could be included in future issues then please contact Karen Connaughton on (02) 6252 5337 or email karen.connaughton@abs.gov.au.

If you have any queries concerning the Direction of the Land and Agricultural Program at the ABS, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Merry Christmas

Michael Vardon
Director
Land and Agriculture NSC
ABS