NOTES
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION
This publication contains second (or near final) estimates of gross value of production of selected agricultural commodities for all states, territories and Australia.
The final estimates will be released in Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, (cat. no. 7503.0) in February 2008.
CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE
Move to a new register of agricultural businesses
Until recently, the ABS had maintained its own register of agricultural establishments. However, it had become increasingly difficult to maintain this list, and users were questioning the accuracy of some of the commodity data published. The ABS investigated a number of alternatives for maintaining the register and it was agreed that the ABS should move to a new frame sourced from the Australian Taxation Office's Australian Business Register (ABR).
The ABR-based frame has been used for the first time to conduct the 2005-06 Agricultural Census. An implication of this strategy is that Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced (VACP) data are not directly comparable with historical time series for most crops and for eggs. This is because, in addition to the change in frame, there have been changes in methodologies used for determining whether agricultural businesses are 'in-scope' of the collection and in some of the ways the data are compiled. (For more information, please see the technical note on page 11.)
To provide users with a way of comparing the 2005-06 VACP data with the historical time series, the ABS has prepared two sets of 2005-06 estimates. 'New-basis' estimates have been prepared using the new ABR-based register and its associated statistical methodologies. These methodologies have been subjected to rigorous analysis and testing, with the resulting 'new basis' estimates representing the start of a new commodity and livestock series. 'Old-basis' estimates have been prepared to provide a best judgement approximation to what the various estimates may have been if the ABS had continued to use the previous ABS-maintained list of establishments (with its associated statistical methodologies) to conduct the 2005-06 Agricultural Census. Due to the complexities involved in collecting, processing and estimating 'old basis' data from a 'new-basis' framework, the 'old-basis' 2005-06 estimates and the movements between 2004-05 and 2005-06 should be considered indicative only.
Value of hay
The 2004-05 Agricultural Survey included separate questions about production of pastures and grasses cut for hay, and other crops for hay. The 2005-06 Agricultural Census asked only the total production of all crops for hay. An estimated average hay price has been applied to total hay production to derive the value of all crops for hay.
INQUIRIES
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Geoff Ellerton on Hobart (03) 6222 5856.
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