7111.0 - Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, 2007-08  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/11/2008   
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EXPLANATORY NOTES


INTRODUCTION

1 This publication presents preliminary estimates of principal agricultural commodities and livestock numbers for the 2007-08 season, and comparative data for the previous two years. Also included are preliminary estimates on management responses to adverse seasonal conditions. The preliminary estimates are based on a response rate of 73% from a sample of 33,000 Agricultural businesses selected for the 2007-08 Agricultural Resource Management Survey.

2 Changes to the ABS Agricultural survey program for 2007-08 resulted in the annual Agricultural Survey being combined with a benchmark survey of land management practices by agricultural businesses, and a survey of management responses to adverse seasonal conditions experienced by affected agricultural businesses. The combined survey is the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). As a result of these changes, the range of agricultural commodities and livestock breakdowns was reduced compared to previous years.

3 The less detailed range of livestock data are reflected in Table 2 of this publication, and the reduction in commodity detail will be apparent in the final data released in Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0) in May 2009. The additional land management practices and final adverse seasonal conditions data collected by the ARMS will be released in Land Management and Farming in Australia (cat. no. 4627) also to be published in May 2009.

4 The estimates for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are the final release of National and State level estimates for principal agricultural commodities and livestock numbers collected in the 2005-06 Agricultural Census and 2006-07 Agricultural Survey.


SCOPE AND COVERAGE

5 Estimates in this publication are based on information obtained from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey for the year ended 30 June 2008.

6 The scope of the 2007-08 Agricultural Resource Management Survey was all agricultural businesses above a minimum size cut-off recorded on the Australian Business Register (ABR) maintained by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and was the same scope as the 2005-06 Agricultural Census and 2006-07 Agricultural Survey.

7 For the 2007-08 Agricultural Resource Management Survey, the measure of size was the ABS's Estimated Value of Agricultural Operations (EVAO) where available; or where it was not available a Business Activity Statement (BAS) turnover size was derived. A minimum size cut-off of $5,000, based on either EVAO or BAS Turnover, was used to determine whether a unit was in-scope for the Survey.


GENERAL

8 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

9 Estimates for NSW and the ACT are combined in data reported in table 3. This is done as part of the process to confidentialise non-commodity agricultural data.


RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES (SAMPLE ERROR)

10 The estimates in this publication are based on information obtained from a sample drawn from the total population of agricultural businesses in scope of the collection, and are subject to sampling variability; that is, they may differ from the figures that would have been produced if all agricultural businesses had been included in the Agricultural Resource Management Survey. One measure of the likely difference is given by the standard error (SE), which indicates the extent to which an estimate might vary by chance because only a sample was taken. There are about two chances in three that a 'sample' estimate will differ by less than one SE from the figure that would have been obtained if all farms had been included, and about nineteen chances in twenty that the difference will be less than two SEs.

11 In this publication, 'sampling' variability of the estimates is measured by the relative standard error (RSE) which is obtained by expressing the SE as a percentage of the estimate to which it refers.

12 Most published estimates have RSEs less than 5%. For some states with limited production of certain commodities, RSEs are greater than 10%. Estimates that have an estimated RSE between 10% and 25% are annotated with the symbol '^'. These estimates should be used with caution as they are subject to sampling variability too high for some purposes. Estimates with an RSE between 25% and 50% are annotated with the symbol '*', indicating that the estimate should be used with caution as it is subject to sampling error too high for most practical purposes. Estimates with an RSE greater than 50% are annotated with the symbol '**', indicating that the sampling variability causes the estimates to be considered too unreliable for general use. Separate indication of the RSEs of all estimates is available on request.

13 A table with RSEs for the principal commodities in this publication follows:

RELATIVE STANDARD ERRORS OF SELECTED ESTIMATES, by State - 2007-08
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Barley for grain, production
5.7
5.5
9.0
5.7
4.1
22.6
na
na
2.6
Canola, production
17.0
10.7
66.8
8.7
7.0
11.2
na
-
5.0
Cotton lint, production
17.0
na
9.8
na
-
na
na
na
12.9
Grain sorghum, production
6.3
-
5.1
na
81.1
na
-
na
4.0
Lupins for grain, production
11.8
20.1
na
10.6
6.8
37.5
na
na
5.7
Oats for grain, production
6.8
9.2
16.6
11.5
8.9
15.5
na
49.8
5.5
Rice for grain, production
24.8
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
24.8
Sugar cane cut for crushing, production
10.8
na
4.5
na
2.4
na
na
na
4.2
Wheat for grain, production
4.8
5.7
5.1
4.5
3.1
10.5
85.3
58.8
2.0
Total milk cattle
6.8
4.8
9.2
8.7
8.4
9.8
na
na
3.4
Total meat cattle
2.4
3.4
3.6
9.5
6.0
5.4
19.2
12.3
2.4
Total sheep and lambs
2.4
4.5
8.6
3.4
3.6
5.8
na
9.3
1.7
Total pigs
20.2
11.3
7.1
11.3
12.8
4.7
90.9
na
7.0
Changed pasture species
(a)6.2
6.9
9.6
12.3
13.8
15.2
96.5
na
3.8
De-stocked
(a)1.5
2.1
1.9
3.5
3.5
4.0
30.4
na
0.9
Modified cropping/planting program
(a)3.5
5.5
5.1
6.4
4.5
12.7
50.4
na
2.2
Modified irrigation program
(a)4.3
4.8
4.7
4.9
13.4
10.3
37.2
na
2.3
Undertook debt restructuring
(a)3.9
6.2
5.2
6.5
6.3
13.4
40.4
na
2.4
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
na not available
(a) Includes ACT.



ABS DATA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

14 As well as the statistics included in this and related publications, the ABS may have other relevant data available on request. Inquiries should be made to the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.


GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

15 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated. Without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.


RELATED PUBLICATIONS

16 A range of publications relevant to the Agriculture sector are produced by the ABS, including:
  • Agricultural Commodities, Australia, cat. no. 7121.0
  • Agricultural Survey, Apples and Pears, Australia, cat. no. 7121.0.55.002
  • Australian Wine and Grape Industry, cat. no. 1329.0
  • Farm Management and Climate, cat. no. 4625.0
  • Livestock and Meat, Australia, cat. no. 7218.0.55.001
  • Livestock Products, Australia, cat. no. 7215.0
  • Natural Resource Management on Australian Farms, cat. no. 4620.0
  • Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, cat. no. 7501.0
  • Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, cat. no. 7503.0
  • Vineyards Estimates, Australia, cat. no. 1329.0.55.002
  • Water Use on Australian Farms, Australia, cat. no. 4618.0

17 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed in the Catalogue of Publications and Products (cat. no. 1101.0). The Catalogue is available from any ABS office or the ABS web site <https://www.abs.gov.au>. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the web site which details products to be released in the week ahead.