KEY FINDINGS
As part of this publication, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released a short video animation covering key findings from the 2015-16 Agricultural Census. This video can be accessed from the link below.
![](/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/fac1272be29f58fbca2582910013a7d5/Body/0.1FA!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
The Agricultural Census is one of the largest statistical collections undertaken by the ABS and provides data on agricultural holdings operated by Australian farming businesses.
![Image: Infographic header. See text above for more information.](/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/fac1272be29f58fbca2582910013a7d5/Body/0.214E!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
Data was collected throughout 2015-16 from businesses ranging from beef cattle production to broadacre farming and vineyards.
![Image: An infographic illustrating the number of Australian farming business. See text below for more information.](/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/fac1272be29f58fbca2582910013a7d5/Body/1.2740!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
Number of Australian farming businesses: 85,681.
![Image: An infographic illustrating the total size of Australian beef, dairy and sheep herds. See text below for more information.](/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/fac1272be29f58fbca2582910013a7d5/Body/4.2D28!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
Total size of beef, dairy and sheep herds
- Beef herd: 22,306,275. Down 1% since 2014-15
- Dairy herd: 2,665,074. Down 2% since 2014-15
- Sheep flock: 67,543,092. Down 1% since 2014-15.
Gross value of Australia’s agricultural production: $56 billion in 2015–16.
![Image: An infographic illustrating the top three Australian crop types. See text below for more information.](/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/fac1272be29f58fbca2582910013a7d5/Body/11.2EDE!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
Top three crop types
- Wheat: $6.2 billion
- Fruit nuts and grapes: $5.6 billion
- Vegies: $3.6 billion.
Total amount of water used on Australian farms: 9.2 million megalitres.
Average size of beef, dairy and sheep herds
- Beef herd: 805 head
- Dairy herd: 412 head
- Sheep flock: 2,857 head.
Average farm size: 4,331ha which is up 0.3% since 2014-15.
![Image: An infographic illustrating the average use of water by Australian farming businesses. See text below for more information.](/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/fac1272be29f58fbca2582910013a7d5/Body/26.2!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
Australian farming businesses used an average of 107 megalitres of water. 4 megalitres less than 2014–15.