EXPLANATORY NOTES
INTRODUCTION
1 This publication contains final estimates for the main commodities collected in the 2006-07 Agricultural Survey and related supplementary collections (i.e. Apples and Pears Collection and Vineyards Collection). It contains detailed statistics on crops, livestock and livestock products, and industry and size characteristics of agricultural businesses.
GENERAL
2 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
STATISTICAL UNITS USED
3 Since 2005-06, the ABS has used an economic statistics units model on the ABS Business Register (ABSBR) to describe the characteristics of businesses and the structural relationships between related businesses. The units model is used within large and diverse business groups to define reporting units that can provide data to the ABS at a suitable level.
4 Respondents to the 2006-07 Agricultural Survey were drawn from the ABS Business Register.
SCOPE AND COVERAGE
5 The scope of the 2006-07 Agricultural Survey was essentially all agricultural businesses above a minimum size cut-off recorded on the Australian Business Register (ABR) maintained by the ATO. This was the same as the scope for the Agricultural Census for 2005-06. Prior to 2005-06, the scope varied and these details are available on request. For the 2006-07 Agricultural Survey, a sample of 36,000 agricultural businesses were selected.
6 For the 2006-07 Agricultural 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.
7 While the Agricultural Survey frame does not contain all agricultural businesses in Australia, it is expected to provide better coverage than previous non-ABR-based Agricultural Survey frames, since most businesses and organisations in Australia need to obtain an Australian Business Number (ABN) from the ATO for their business operations. The Agricultural Survey frame is also expected to be more up-to-date than previous frames, as it excludes agricultural businesses with cancelled ABNs and incorporates regularly updated information on agricultural businesses from the ATO.
INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION
8 The industry classification used in this publication is the 2006 version of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). Prior to the 2005-06 issue of this publication, estimates were based on the ANZSIC 1993 edition. ANZSIC 2006 was developed to provide a more contemporary industrial classification system taking into account issues such as changes in the structure and composition of the economy, changing user demands and compatibility with major international classification standards. For more information, please refer to Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (cat. no. 1292.0).
RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES (SAMPLE ERROR)
9 The estimates in this publication are based on information obtained from a sample drawn from the total agricultural business population 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 businesses had been included in the Agricultural 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 businesses had responded, and about nineteen chances in twenty that the difference will be less than two SEs.
10 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.
11 Most published national 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 variability 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.
12 A table with RSEs for selected commodities follows:
Relative Standard Errors Of Seleted Commodities - At 30 June 2007 |
|  |
| NSW | Vic. | Qld | SA | WA | Tas. | NT | ACT | Aust. | |
| % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| |
| Barley for grain, production | 4.9 | 4.2 | 17.8 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 8.5 | - | - | 1.8 | |
| Canola, production | 9.9 | 8.8 | 76.2 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 15.5 | - | - | 4.4 | |
| Lupins for grain, production | 16.7 | 12.8 | 48.6 | 7.6 | 5.2 | 44.0 | - | - | 4.6 | |
| Oats for grain, production | 9.9 | 7.7 | 17.3 | 8.8 | 5.8 | 10.3 | - | 36.9 | 4.0 | |
| Wheat for grain, production | 3.6 | 4.2 | 10.8 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 8.0 | - | 36.9 | 1.7 | |
| Oranges, production | 8.4 | 8.5 | 22.7 | 7.8 | 12.6 | - | - | - | 5.0 | |
| Carrots, production | 41.6 | 7.6 | 9.7 | 4.6 | 11.5 | 5.2 | - | - | 5.6 | |
| Potatoes, production | 13.9 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 5.3 | 9.5 | 6.1 | - | - | 3.2 | |
| Tomatoes, production | 2.7 | 17.2 | 3.2 | 16.3 | 25.6 | 22.5 | 20.2 | - | 7.4 | |
| Total meat cattle | 2.3 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 2.8 | 49.2 | 1.6 | |
| Total milk cattle | 4.3 | 3.6 | 5.8 | 8.3 | 12.8 | 5.8 | - | 33.0 | 2.5 | |
| Total sheep and lambs | 2.8 | 2.3 | 6.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 32.0 | 5.7 | 1.3 | |
| Total pigs | 3.5 | 5.2 | 10.0 | 8.7 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 24.7 | - | 3.4 | |
| |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
CROPS, PASTURES AND HORTICULTURE
13 Statistics on area and production of crops relate, in the main, to crops sown during the year ended 30 June. Statistics of perennial crops relate to the position at 30 June and the production during the year ended on that date, or fruit set by that date. Statistics for apples and pears and grapes, which in some states are harvested after 30 June, are collected by supplementary collection forms and are included in this publication.
LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTERING AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS
14 The statistics on livestock slaughtering and meat production are based on data collected from abattoirs and other major slaughtering establishments and include estimates of animals slaughtered on farms and by country butchers and other small slaughtering establishments. Care should be taken when using this information as the figures only relate to slaughtering for human consumption and do not include animals condemned or those killed for boiling down. Definitions of livestock categories may differ between states and within states, particularly with regard to calves.
WOOL
15 Wool production statistics contained in this publication are derived from the quarterly ABS Wool Brokers and Dealers Receivals Collection and are published on the basis of state of production.
16 Wool receivals statistics show the amount of taxable wool received by brokers and dealers from wool producers. They exclude wool received by brokers on which wool tax has already been paid by other dealers (private buyers) or brokers.
MILK
17 Milk statistics have been collected and provided to the ABS by Dairy Australia. Data for the Australian Capital Territory are included with New South Wales; data for the Northern Territory are included with South Australia.
POULTRY SLAUGHTERING
18 Poultry slaughtering statistics have been compiled from quarterly returns supplied by commercial poultry slaughtering establishments. Producers in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are not included in the aggregates derived from the Poultry and Game Birds Slaughtered collection. However, the statistics represent a high level of coverage.
ABS DATA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
19 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 either the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Linda Falzari on Hobart (03) 6222 5939.
GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
20 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
21 A range of agricultural publications is produced by the ABS, including:
- Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, cat. no. 7111.0
- Agricultural Commodities: Small Area Data, Australia, cat. no. 7125.0
- Natural Resource Management on Australian Farms, cat. no. 4620.0
- Water Use on Australian Farms, cat. no. 4618.0
- Livestock and Meat, Australia - Electronic Publication, cat. no. 7218.0.55.001
- Livestock Products, Australia, cat. no. 7215.0
- Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, cat. no. 7501.0
- Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, cat. no. 7503.0
22 For comparisons of the agriculture industry with other industries, users are referred to:
- Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, cat. no. 5206.0
- Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, cat. no. 5220.0
23 The ABS also plans to release sub-state geographic level data in conjunction with this publication. In particular, Statistical Division (SD) and Natural Resource Management region data will be released in
Agricultural Commodities: Small Area Data, Australia (cat. no. 7125.0) for selected commodities. The sub-state outputs will be available as spreadsheets.
24 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.
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