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.
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.
Data was collected throughout 2015-16 from businesses ranging from beef cattle production to broadacre farming and vineyards.
Number of Australian farming businesses: 85,681.
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.
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.
Australian farming businesses used an average of 107 megalitres of water. 4 megalitres less than 2014–15.
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