4630.0 - Agricultural Resource Management Practices, Australia, 2011-12 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/06/2013  First Issue
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Image: Field LAND USE ON FARMS

In 2011-12:

NATIONAL AND STATE/TERRITORY
  • Agricultural holdings in Australia totalled 405 million hectares, a decrease of 4.2 million hectares, or 1% from the 2010-11 Agricultural Census.
  • Around 355 million hectares (88%) of agricultural land were mainly used for grazing, with Queensland businesses reporting 129 million hectares or 36% of Australia's agricultural land mainly used for grazing.
  • Approximately 50.5 million hectares of agricultural land were mainly used for grazing on improved pasture, while 305 million hectares were mainly used for grazing on other agricultural land.
  • Around 63,250 agricultural businesses reported a combined total of 32.0 million hectares of land that were mainly used for crops, with Western Australia using 9.9 million hectares, ahead of New South Wales with 9.2 million hectares.
  • Almost a third (32%) of all agricultural businesses in Australia reported setting aside a combined total of 8.4 million hectares of land for conservation or protection purposes.
  • The Northern Territory recorded the highest percentage of agricultural land mainly used for grazing (96%), followed by Queensland (94%). Victoria had the lowest percentage (54%) but it was the state with the highest percentage of agricultural land mainly used for cropping (35%). Tasmania recorded the highest percentage of agricultural land set aside for conservation or protection purposes (8%).



Graph Image for Agricultural land use

Footnote(s): (a) Includes ACT.

Source(s): Agricultural Resource Management Practices, Australia (cat. no. 4630.0)




AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTS (AAE)
  • Regions with the highest proportion of agricultural land were Subtropical Plains (89% of total area), Wheatbelt East (87%) and Wheatbelt Downs (85%). The regions with the lowest proportion of agricultural land were Temperate Coast West and Temperate Coast South regions (24% each) (see map below).

Image: Map of land use