QUALITY DECLARATION - SUMMARY
INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT
For information on the institutional environment of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), including the legislative obligations of the ABS, financing and governance arrangements, and mechanisms for scrutiny of ABS operations, please see ABS Institutional Environment.
RELEVANCE
Wheat Use and Stocks, Australia (cat. no. 7307.0) presents monthly data on stocks, use and commitments of wheat grain in Australia for selected manufacturing and agricultural businesses, licensed exporters and bulk grain handlers. In addition, use and stocks data for barley and other grains and pulses will be released on a quarterly basis for the 2009/2010 year. These estimates are compiled from various monthly surveys conducted by the ABS, including the Grain Handlers Stocks Survey, the Wheat Use Survey, the Wheat Export Sales Survey, and administrative data relating to wheat grain exports.
The Wheat Use Survey (WUS) is a monthly survey of selected wheat grain users, including selected manufacturers, animal feedlot operators, dairy operators and wheat growers. Data are collected on the basis of the state where the wheat is used, stored and contracted for future use. Additional data relating to the use and stocks of barley and other grains and pulses is collected on a quarterly basis from these wheat grain users commencing September 2009. The data are for states and territories and Australia.
The Wheat Export Sales Survey (WESS) is a monthly survey of wheat exporters' contracts for future wheat grain exports. Data are collected on the basis of the state where the wheat grain is sourced, and then aggregated to derive Australian totals.
The Grain Handlers Stocks Survey (GHSS) is a monthly survey of the major bulk grain handling businesses in Australia to collect data on stocks of wheat grain and quality grades, as well as stocks of barley and other grains and pulses on a quarterly basis.
Data relating to the export of wheat are compiled from information submitted by exporters, or their agents, to the Australian Customs Service (ACS). Statistics are compiled for states and territories and Australia.
The wheat surveys are undertaken on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to assist the wheat industry. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) uses these data to compile a regular report on uncommitted wheat stocks within the Australian economy. From September 2009, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) engaged the ABS to expand the scope of some of the wheat collections to gather quarterly information on barley and other grains and pulses.
TIMELINESS
Wheat Stocks and Use, Australia (cat. no. 7307.0) is released monthly, 5 weeks after the reference period. The first release, covering the period from October 2008 to December 2008 was released in February 2009.
The ABS also releases Stocks of Grain Held by Bulk Handling Companies and Grain Traders, Australia (cat no. 7122.0.55.001) on a monthly basis, within 4 weeks of the end of the reference period. This is to provide earlier release of data on bulk stocks of wheat, barley and other grains and pulses held by bulk grain handling companies.
ACCURACY
Data from the various wheat surveys have been quality assured using recognised statistical techniques. The resultant value estimates have been checked against earlier months (where available) and relevant other sources, including contact with data providers, to ensure the accuracy of the estimates produced.
COHERENCE
Wheat Stocks and Use, Australia (cat. no. 7307.0) was first released in February 2009. Commencing with the December 2009 reference period, the scope and coverage of the Wheat Use Survey was expanded to include dairy operators and wheat growers. As a result, data collected prior to the December 2009 reference period is not directly comparable with data collected from December 2009 onwards. Since March 2009, wheat stocks have been released in Stocks of Grain Held by Bulk Handling Companies and Grain Traders, Australia (cat. no. 7122.0.55.001) on a monthly basis. Stocks of barley and other grains and pulses are released quarterly, beginning September 2009. Data are expected to be comparable over future collection cycles.
INTERPRETABILITY
Detailed Explanatory Notes are provided in Wheat Use and Stocks, Australia (cat. no. 7307.0) and Stocks of Grain Held by Bulk Handling Companies and Grain Traders, Australia (cat. no. 7122.0.55.001) to assist users in interpreting these data and to understand the concepts underlying the data.
ACCESSIBILITY
An extensive range of data are available from a variety of agriculture based collections on the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>. For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
Quality Declaration 
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