• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

MAIN FINDINGS


AUSTRALIA

At June 2000, 58% of the 146,371 Australian farms with an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $5,000 or more, used a computer. This represented a 17% increase in the number of such farms using a computer since March 1999 when the survey was last conducted.

At June 2000, an estimated 34% (or 49,499) of the 146,371 farms in Australia used the Internet. Although fewer farms used the Internet than used a computer at June 2000, a 91% increase in the number of farms using the Internet over the 15 months to June 2000 far exceeded growth in the use of computers for the same period.


REGIONAL DATA

The Northern Territory reported both the highest proportion of farms using computers (71%) and the highest proportion of farms using the Internet (49%). New South Wales reported both the lowest proportion of farms using a computer (53%) and the lowest proportion of farms using the Internet (31%).

Across non-capital city Statistical Divisions throughout Australia the proportion of farms using a computer ranged from 43% to 78%. The proportions of farms using the Internet ranged from 25% to 45%.


FARM INDUSTRY

The Poultry farming industry reported both the highest proportion of farms using a computer (72%) and the highest proportion of Internet use (45%). The Grain, sheep and beef cattle farming industry reported both the lowest proportion of computer use (55%) and the lowest proportion of farms using the Internet (31%).


FARM SIZE

There was a strong relationship between farm size, as measured by the estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO), and the use of a computer and the Internet. As farm size increased so did the proportion of farms using a computer and the Internet.


1 FARMS USING A COMPUTER, BY STATE/TERRITORY

	March 1998			March 1999			June 2000
	Farms using a computer			Farms using a computer			Farms using a computer
	no.	%		no.	%		no.	%
New South Wales	16,934	40		21,545	49		23,028	53
Victoria	13,538	37		18,075	49		21,549	58
Queensland	11,311	37		13,870	45		17,841	58
South Australia	6,795	43		8,361	53		10,180	64
Western Australia	6,850	49		8,270	59		9,466	68
Tasmania	1,608	36		2,186	49		2,507	57
Northern Territory	196	52		241	65		260	71
Australian Capital Territory	58	55		66	64		67	70
Australia	57,290	40		72,615	49		84,898	58

	March 1998			March 1999			June 2000
	Farms using the Internet			Farms using the Internet			Farms using the Internet
	no.	%		no.	%		no.	%
New South Wales	5,006	12		8,231	19		13,596	31
Victoria	3,621	10		6,174	17		12,270	33
Queensland	3,075	10		4,830	16		9,811	32
South Australia	1,896	12		3,030	19		6,442	40
Western Australia	1,428	10		2,548	18		5,621	40
Tasmania	552	12		973	22		1,539	35
Northern Territory	81	22		114	31		180	49
Australian Capital Territory	21	20		27	26		40	42
Australia	15,680	11		25,927	18		49,499	34

• to Statistical Divisions (SD) within States and Territories, as set out in the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (Cat. no. 1216.0);

• to industry according to the methodology described in Australia and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) (Cat. no. 1292.0); and

• to EVAO ranges according to the estimated value of agricultural operations (or activity) undertaken by an establishment.

	Farms using a computer	Farms using the Internet
	%	%
State
New South Wales	2	3
Victoria	2	3
Queensland	2	3
South Australia	2	2
Western Australia	2	3
Tasmania	3	4
Northern Territory	–	–
Australian Capital Territory	–	–
Australia	1	1
Industry
Horticulture and fruit growing	1	2
Grain, sheep and beef cattle farming	1	2
Dairy cattle farming	3	5
Poultry farming	4	5
Other livestock farming	5	6
Other crop growing	4	5
Other	9	10
Farm size
Less than $50,000	2	3
$50,000–$149,999	2	3
$150,000–$249,999	2	3
$250,000–$499,999	2	2
$500,000–$999,999	2	2
$1m or more	2	3