EXPLANATORY NOTES
INTRODUCTION
1 This publication contains estimates for commodities collected in the 2007-08 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) and related supplementary collections (i.e. Apples and Pears, Vineyards, and Vegetable Collections). It contains detailed statistics on landuse, broadacre crops, horticulture, livestock numbers and industry characteristics of agricultural businesses.
GENERAL
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 undertaken by agricultural businesses, and a survey of management responses to adverse seasonal conditions experienced by affected agricultural businesses. As a result of these changes, the range of agricultural commodities and livestock categories was reduced compared to previous years.
3 The less detailed range of broadacre crops, fruit, vegetable, and livestock data is reflected in Tables 3, 4, 5 and 7 of this publication, and the reduction in commodity detail will be apparent when comparing to the 2006-07 data.
4 Expanded vegetable and livestock commodities can be found in the datacubes attached to this publication.
5 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
STATISTICAL UNITS USED
6 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.
7 Respondents to the 2007-08 ARMS were drawn from the ABS Business Register.
SCOPE AND COVERAGE
8 The scope of the 2007-08 ARMS was all agricultural businesses recorded on the ABS' Business Register (ABSBR) above a minimum size cutoff. The ABSBR is based on the Australian Business Register (ABR) which is administered and maintained by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
9 A minimum size cut-off of $5,000 was applied to determine whether a business was in-scope for the 2007-08 ARMS. The measure of size was based on the ABS' Estimated Value of Agricultural Operations (EVAO) or a derived value based on Businesses Activity Statement (BAS) turnover.
10 While the ABSBR does not include all agricultural businesses in Australia, it provides improved coverage from the former ABS-maintained Agricultural Survey frame as most businesses and organisations in Australia need to obtain an Australian Business Number (ABN) from the ATO for their business operations. The ABR-based register is also more up-to-date as it excludes agricultural businesses with cancelled ABNs and incorporates regularly updated information on agricultural businesses from the ATO.
11 For the 2007-08 ARMS, a sample of approximately 33,000 agricultural businesses was selected from an in-scope population of approximately 150,000 agricultural businesses.
INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION
12 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).
13 For the 2007-08 ARMS several ANZSIC classifications were amalgamated because some data were not collected during the ARMS cycle. These amalgamations were:
- 0111 and 0112: Nursery Production Undercover plus Nursery Production Outdoors.
- 0114 and 0115: Floriculture Production Undercover plus Floriculture Production Outdoors.
- 0122 and 0123: Vegetable Growing Undercover plus Vegetable Growing Outdoors
- 0142 and 0143: Beef Cattle Farming plus Beef Cattle Feedlots (Specialised)
RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES (SAMPLE ERROR)
14 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 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 A table with RSEs for selected commodities follows:
Relative standard errors of selected commodities, At 30 June 2008 |
|
 | NSW | Vic. | Qld | SA | WA | Tas. | NT | ACT | Aust. |
| % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
|
| Barley for grain, production | 6.41 | 5.00 | 7.99 | 5.69 | 3.76 | 18.67 | - | - | 2.43 |
| Canola, production | 8.16 | 9.47 | 66.09 | 7.66 | 6.28 | 8.40 | - | - | 4.41 |
| Lupins for grain, production | 10.89 | 17.59 | 88.73 | 9.52 | 4.94 | 38.10 | - | - | 4.20 |
| Oats for grain, production | 6.70 | 8.86 | 14.34 | 10.29 | 8.52 | 13.93 | - | 31.82 | 5.29 |
| Wheat for grain, production | 3.41 | 5.05 | 4.66 | 4.21 | 2.58 | 9.08 | 77.85 | 37.55 | 1.67 |
| Oranges, production | 5.74 | 14.92 | 14.43 | 11.24 | 19.74 | - | - | - | 5.02 |
| Carrots, production | 7.64 | 4.64 | 7.72 | 7.09 | 6.03 | 12.59 | - | - | 3.74 |
| Potatoes, production | 4.47 | 6.86 | 9.95 | 4.70 | 5.17 | 4.69 | - | - | 2.50 |
| Total meat cattle | 2.61 | 3.23 | 3.23 | 5.20 | 5.35 | 4.66 | 12.48 | 6.72 | 2.01 |
| Total milk cattle | 5.57 | 4.22 | 7.26 | 7.32 | 8.03 | 8.30 | - | - | 2.90 |
| Total sheep | 2.59 | 4.08 | 7.41 | 3.10 | 3.30 | 5.14 | 93.34 | 5.08 | 1.57 |
| Total pigs | 24.53 | 10.37 | 5.75 | 8.41 | 9.78 | 4.12 | 90.92 | - | 8.31 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
CROPS, PASTURES AND HORTICULTURE
18 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, grapes, and vegetables which in some states are harvested after 30 June, are collected by supplementary surveys and are included in this publication.
LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTERING AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS
19 Livestock slaughtering and livestock products, including milk and wool data, and poultry slaughtering are no longer included in this publication. Further information can be found in the publication
Livestock Products, Australia (cat. no. 7215.0).
ABS DATA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
20 Expanded vegetable and livestock data will be released as separate datacubes attached to this publication. Sub-state geographies, specifically Statistical Division (SD) and Natural Resource Management (NRM), for agricultural commodities will also be released in datacubes attached to this catalogue number.
21 The additional land management practices and final adverse seasonal conditions estimates collected by the 2007-08 ARMS will be released in
Land Management and Farming in Australia (cat. no. 4627.0). Water use data collected as part of ARMS will be released in
Water Use on Australia Farms (cat. no. 4618.0). Sub-state geographic level data, (SD and NRM) will be released as datacubes attached to their respective catalogue numbers.
22 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
23 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
24 A range of agricultural publications is produced by the ABS, including:
- Agricultural Commodities: Small Area Data, Australia, cat. no. 7125.0
- Livestock and Meat, Australia - Electronic Publication, cat. no. 7218.0.55.001
- Livestock Products, Australia, cat. no. 7215.0
- Natural Resource Management on Australian Farms, cat. no. 4620.0
- Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, cat. no. 7111.0
- Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, cat. no. 7501.0
- Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, cat. no. 7503.0
- Water Use on Australian Farms, cat. no. 4618.0
25 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
26 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed under the Statistics and Themes pages on the ABS website <
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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