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
Final estimates from the 2010-11 Agricultural Census will be presented in four publications:
Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0), presents statistics from the 2010-11 Agricultural Census and agricultural collections for previous years (including the 2009-10 Agricultural Resource Management Survey and the 2008-09 Agricultural Survey). It contains detailed statistics on crops, livestock, industry and size characteristics of agricultural businesses. The publication will show data on a National, State and Territory basis. Sub-state level data, including River basin, ASGC and ASGS levels will be released in data cubes attached to the publications on the ABS website.
Water use on Australian Farms (cat. no. 4618.0), presents statistics from the 2010-11 Agricultural Census and agricultural collections for previous years (including annual agricultural surveys from 2006-07 onwards). It contains detailed statistics on agricultural water use and sources of water - including details of pastures and crops irrigated and volume of water applied. The publication will show data on a National, State and Territory basis and also provide selected data on the Murray Darling Basin region. Sub-state level data, including River basin, ASGC and ASGS levels will be released in data cubes attached to the publications on the ABS website.
Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia (cat. no. 7503.0), presents value of production statistics derived from the 2010-11 Census and agricultural collections for previous years (including the 2009-10 Agricultural Resource Management Survey and the 2008-09 Agricultural Survey). It contains detailed statistics on the gross and local values of crops, livestock slaughterings and disposals and livestock products. The publication will show data on a National, State and Territory basis. Sub-state level data, including River basin, ASGC and ASGS levels will be released in data cubes attached to the publications on the ABS website.
Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production, 2000-01 to 2010-11 (cat. no. 4610.0.55.008), presents the gross value of agricultural commodities that are produced with the assistance of irrigation. The publication will show data on a National, State and Territory basis and also provide selected data on the Murray Darling Basin region.
TIMELINESS
Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0), Water use on Australian Farms (cat. no. 4618.0) and Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia (cat. no. 7503.0) will be published within 12 months of the end of the reference period. Data cubes containing sub-state level data attached to these publications will be released progressively from August 2012. Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production, 2000-01 to 2010-11 (cat. no. 4610.0.55.008) will be published in October 2012. Preliminary data presenting principal crops and livestock numbers and gross values of production for principal agricultural commodities for the 2010-11 reference period were released in the publications Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary (cat. no. 7111.0) and Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary (cat. no. 7501.0), respectively, in November 2011.
ACCURACY
Data from the Agricultural Census - Financial year 2010/2011 are based on a response rate of 88% and has been extensively quality assured. The resultant estimates have been checked against relevant other sources, including previous Agricultural Surveys and Censuses and contact with data providers, to ensure the accuracy of the estimates produced. All estimates are subject to sampling errors.
COHERENCE
The 2010-11 Agricultural Census was conducted using a frame based on the Australian Business Register (ABR). This frame has been used since the 2005-06 Agricultural Census and for subsequent annual agricultural surveys. The estimates are directly comparable across these collection periods, however, it is recommended that care be taken when comparing estimates from these collection cycles to earlier years, i.e. prior to 2005-06. Detailed explanatory and technical notes relating to this change in frame were included in the 2005-06 PDF release of Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).
INTERPRETABILITY
The annual agricultural collections and five-yearly Agricultural Censuses provide a broad range of data about Australian agricultural commodities, agricultural water use and irrigation activity and land and resource management practices through a suite of standard products or as data customised for individual requirements. Time series data are available for some estimates that were collected through previous Agricultural Surveys/Censuses, including the 2009-10 Agricultural Resource Management Survey. Detailed explanatory notes are provided with each publication to assist users in determining and specifying their data requirements 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>.
If the information you require is not available as a standard product or service, the ABS Consultancy Services can assist with customised services to suit your requirements. Inquiries should be made to the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.