Agricultural Commodities, Australia

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Statistics on the production of agricultural commodities including cereal and broadacre crops, fruit and vegetables and livestock on Australian farms

Reference period
2017-18 financial year
Released
30/04/2019

Key statistics

  • There were 85,000 agricultural businesses (down 3% from June 2017).
  • There were 378 million hectares of agricultural land (down 4%).
  • 75 million tonnes of broadacre crops were produced (down 22%). ​​​​​​
  • this covered 24 million hectares (down 8% from 2016-17).

Australian farms and farmers

As at 30 June 2018 there were 85,000 agricultural businesses (down 3% from June 2017) and 378 million hectares of agricultural land (down 4%).

Australian farmers

In 2017-18 the average Australian farmer was:

  •  57 years of age
  •  male (more than two-thirds of farmers were male (77%)), and had
  •  37 years experience in farming
     

Sources of farm income

Australian farming businesses received most of their income from agricultural production in 2017-18:

  •  85% of income was from agricultural production
  •  11% was from off farm employment or business activities
  •  0.6% was from grants, government transfers and relief funding
     

Land use on Australian farms

Most agricultural land was used for agricultural production in 2017-18:

  •  328 million hectares were used for grazing
  •  31 million hectares for crops
  •  731,000 hectares for forestry plantation
  •  17 million hectares was not used for agricultural production, with half (50%) of this land set aside for conservation/protection purposes.

Broadacre crops

Broadacre crop production fell in 2017-18, following record breaking levels in 2016-17, but remains at its second highest level since 2012. Reduced production was reported for most broadacre crops. Cotton was an exception with a 23% increase in production on the previous season.

In 2017-18 there were:

  • 75 million tonnes of broadacre crops produced (down 22%)
  • 24 million hectares planted (down 8%)
     

Key broadacre crops:

  • Wheat (21 million tonnes, down 34%)
  • Barley (9 million tonnes, down 31%)
  • Canola (4 million tonnes, down 10%)
  • Sorghum (1 million tonnes, up 26%)
  • Oats (1 million tonnes, down 46%)
  • Cotton (950 thousand tonnes, up 23%)
     

Fruit, nuts and vegetables

It was a mixed season for fruit, nuts and vegetables in 2017-18. Reduced production was reported for most fruit, nuts and grapes except citrus and stone fruit. Localised weather events affected vegetable production.

Fruit

Key results for fruit production in 2017-18 included:

  • 1.6 million tonnes of grapes (down 9%)
  • 378,000 tonnes of oranges (up 14%)
  • 374,000 tonnes of bananas (down 9%)
  • 268,000 tonnes of apples (down 15%)
  • 138,000 tonnes of mandarins (up 8%)
  • 104,000 tonnes of pears (up 7%)
  • 70,000 tonnes of almonds (down 7%)
  • 63,000 tonnes of avocadoes (up 12%)
  • 57,000 tonnes of mangoes (up 30%)
     

Vegetables

Key results for vegetable production in 2017-18 included:

  • 1.2 million tonnes of potatoes (up 8%)
  • 386 thousand of tomatoes (up 4%)
  • 279 thousand tonnes of onions (up 6%)
  • 225 thousand tonnes of melons (down 15%)
  • 51 thousand tonnes of mushrooms (up 11%)
  • 49 thousand tonnes of capsicums (up 27%)
     

Livestock

Changing climatic conditions during the year ending 30 June 2018 limited growth of Australian livestock numbers.

Beef cattle

The national beef herd remained relatively steady at 24 million head, with declines in the herd in most states offset by increases in Queensland and Victoria:

At June 2018 the national beef herd comprised:

  • 5 million calves (down 0.3%)
  • 12 million cows and heifers (down 0.2%)
  • 6 million other cattle (up 4%)
     

Dairy cattle

The national dairy herd increased slightly in 2017-18.

At 30 June 2018, there were 2.6 million dairy cattle, including:

  • 1.5 million cows in milk and dry (up 2%)
  • 452,000 dairy calves less than one year (up 1%)
  • 411,000 heifers 1 to 2 years old (down 6%)
  • 138,000 heifers 2 years and older (up 14%)
     

Sheep and lambs

Dry conditions in 2018 limited flock rebuilding nationally.

At June 2018, there were 71 million sheep and lambs in Australia (down 2%), including:

  • 22 million marked lambs less than one year old (down 4%)
  • 27 million breeding merino ewes (up 1%)
  • 13 million other breeding ewes (down 3%)
     

Pigs

Increased numbers of pigs in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia were offset by falls in New South Wales and Victoria in 2017-18.

At June 2018, there were 3 million pigs (up 2%) nationally. Of these there were:

  • 274,000 breeding sows (down 1%)
  • 2 million other pigs (up by 2%)

Data downloads

Agricultural commodities, Australia and state/territory and ASGS (Statistical Area 4) regions - 2017-18

Agricultural commodities, Australia and state/territory and NRM regions - 2017-18

Farm management and demographics, Australia and state/territory and ASGS (Statistical Area 4) regions - 2017-18

Farm management and demographics, Australia and state/territory and NRM regions - 2017-18

Agricultural commodities, Australia and state/territory and ASGS (Statistical Area 4) regions - 2017-18 (.csv file)

Agricultural commodities, Australia and state/territory and NRM regions - 2017-18 (.csv file)

Survey material

To view the Agricultural commodities sample survey form click here.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 7121.0.
 

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