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BROADACRE CROPS, Australia, year ended 30 June 2014
Production
Change in production since
Area
Change in area since
2012-13
2012-13
'000 t
%
'000 ha
%
Barley for grain
9 045
21
3 774
4
Canola
3 532
-15
2 544
-22
Grain sorghum
1 273
-43
528
-18
Oats for grain
1 240
11
708
-3
Wheat for grain
24 182
6
11 849
-9
LIVESTOCK, Australia, year ended 30 June 2014
Number on holding
Change in number on holding since
2012-13
'000
%
Dairy cattle
2 732
-4
Meat cattle
25 724
-3
Sheep and lambs
71 630
-5
PRELIMINARY KEY POINTS
Barley production increased to its highest level since 2005-06, up 21% to 9 million tonnes. All states contributed to this increase, with production in Western Australia increasing 56% to 3.5 million tonnes.
Untimely frosts in New South Wales and Victoria played a large role in the national drop in canola production from a record year in 2012-13, down 15% to 3.5 million tonnes. Decreases were also recorded in the area planted to canola, down 22% to 2.5 million hectares nationally.
The area planted to sorghum and sorghum production decreased substantially, down 18% to 528,000 hectares, and 43% to 1.3 million tonnes respectively. These decreases were driven from Queensland and New South Wales, where hot and dry conditions resulted in both delayed planting and reduced area sown to sorghum.
The total number of sheep and lambs at 30 June 2014 is estimated to have decreased by 5%, or 3.9 million head, to 71.6 million head. Decreases in all states and territories were driven by increased slaughtering rates due to dry seasonal conditions and limited feed availability in eastern Australia.
Footnote(s): (a) Data for 2013 are preliminary and may be subject to revision;