INTRODUCTION
1 The value estimates in this publication are derived by the multiplication of price and quantity of agricultural commodities.
2 Price data refers to the average unit value of a given commodity realised in the marketplace. Price information for livestock slaughterings and wool is obtained from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collections. Price information for other commodities is obtained from non-ABS sources, including marketing authorities and industry sources.
3 Quantity data for crops and eggs have been collected via early estimates from the 2002-03 Agricultural Survey (AS). In 2001-02 this information was also collected via the AS, while in 2000-01 this information was collected via the Agricultural Census. Remaining commodity data is obtained from other ABS collections, with some information from non-ABS sources.
GENERAL
4 Where figures for individual states or territories have been suppressed for reasons of confidentiality, they have been included in relevant totals.
5 The estimates for earlier years shown in this publication have been revised where necessary.
6 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
7 The method of collection of relevant prices for, and the costs of marketing agricultural commodities varies considerably between states and between commodities. Where a statutory authority handles marketing of the whole or a portion of a product, data are usually obtained from this source. Information is also obtained from marketing reports, wholesalers, brokers and auctioneers. For all commodities, values are in respect of production during the year (or season) irrespective of when payments are made. For that portion of production not marketed (e.g. hay grown on farm for own use, milk used in farm household, etc.), estimates are made from the best available information and, in general, are calculated on a local value basis.
PERIOD COVERED
8 The production statistics used in deriving the preliminary value estimates for 2002-03 and the final estimates for 2001-02 and 2000-01 relate to the years ended 30 June.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
9 The following are brief definitions of the terms used:
- Gross value of commodities produced is the value placed on recorded production at the wholesale prices realised in the marketplace.
- Marketplace, in general, is the metropolitan market in each state. In cases where commodities are consumed locally, or where they become raw material for a secondary industry, these points are presumed to be the marketplace.
- Livestock slaughterings and other disposals values are published as one figure but include two distinct components:
- value of livestock slaughtered; and
- value of net exports, i.e. the total value of livestock intended for slaughter in adjacent state(s) where available (at present these can only be identified between the Northern Territory and adjacent states) and livestock exported overseas whether for slaughter or breeding, minus the value of imports of livestock.
SAMPLE ERROR
10 The estimates of gross value for crops and eggs are based on production information provided by the initial respondents to the AS, which is a sample survey drawn from the total farm population in scope of the collection. These estimates are therefore subject to sampling variability; that is, they may differ from the figures that would have been produced if all farms or farm businesses had been included in the AS. One measure of the likely difference is given by the standard error (SE) which indicates the extent to which an estimate might have varied 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 establishments had been reported for, and about nineteen chances in twenty that the difference will be less than two SEs.
11 The estimates of gross value of livestock slaughterings and other disposals, wool and milk are based on data obtained from censuses and are therefore not subject to sampling variability.
12 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. 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 relative standard error 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.
13 A table with RSEs for selected estimates of gross value follows:
RELATIVE STANDARD ERRORS OF SELECTED GROSS VALUES - At 30 June 2003
|
 | NSW | Vic. | Qld | SA | WA | Tas. | NT | ACT | Aust. |
 | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
|
| Value of barley for grain | 6.6 | 4.9 | 10.8 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 5.7 | . . | - | 2.1 |
| Value of grain sorghum | 11.8 | 48.6 | 5.9 | . . | 55.6 | . . | - | - | 5.7 |
| Value of wheat for grain | 3.9 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 7.1 | . . | - | 1.6 |
| Value of lupins for grain | 10.1 | 14.6 | - | 10.9 | 6.2 | 12.7 | . . | - | 5.2 |
| Value of canola | 5.6 | 6.6 | 20.1 | 7.3 | 8.0 | 4.3 | . . | - | 3.7 |
| Value of sugar cane | 8.0 | . . | 3.7 | . . | 8.4 | . . | . . | . . | 4.0 |
| Value of apples | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . |
| Value of grapes | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . |
| Value of potatoes | 12.9 | 5.5 | 25.2 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 3.6 | - | - | 5.3 |
 | | | | | | | | | |
| Value of total crops | 2.0 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 1.5 | - | - | 0.8 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Value of livestock slaughterings | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . | . . |
| Value of livestock products | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | - | - | 0.2 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Value of total agriculture | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.7 | - | - | 0.4 |
|
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
. . not applicable
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 either Geoff Ellerton on Hobart (03) 6222 5856 or 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 agricultural publications is produced by the ABS, including:
- Agricultural Commodities, Australia, cat. no. 7121.0
- Livestock and Meat, Australia - Electronic Publication, cat. no. 7218.0.55.001
- Livestock Products, Australia, cat. no. 7215.0
- Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, cat. no. 7111.0
- Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, cat. no. 7503.0
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. 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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