Agricultural production records tumble amid strong export growth
15/3/2017
Locally grown nuts have featured strongly in a record rise in exports across a range of Australian agricultural produce. In particular macadamias and almonds have fared well in overseas markets along with the traditional performers such as lamb, wool, cotton and beef.
Locally grown nuts have featured strongly in a record rise in exports across a range of Australian agricultural produce. In particular macadamias and almonds have fared well in overseas markets along with the traditional performers such as lamb, wool, cotton and beef.The overall value of farm production is forecast at $63.8 billion this financial year. The 8.3% increase attributed to strong prices for the major exports of wool, lamb and beef as well as favourable seasonal conditions in key farming areas.
With record production levels, and the majority of our farm produce sent offshore, the value of agricultural exports is estimated at $47.7 billion for this financial year increasing to $48.7 for 2017/18.
Australia exports that have reached record volumes include chickpeas (1.4 million tonnes), barley (7.4 million tonnes) wheat (22.8 million tonnes) and $75 million plus from cherry exports.
But the rising star is in value of tree nut exports, a projected $760 million in 2016-17, the second highest on record.
The success of these crops have seen Australia placed as the second-largest almond exporter in the world, and largest exporter of macadamias.
The biggest buyers of Australian almond exports were India and Spain, while China bought the most macadamias.
"The exceptional value of farm production this year comes off the back of record crop production and strong performance across livestock industries," ABARES executive director Peter Gooday said.
More good news lies ahead for Australian farmers, with strong export earnings growth forecast in 2017-18 for sectors including cotton (export earnings forecast to rise 35 per cent), dairy (up 11 per cent), and wool (up 10 per cent).
"The winter crop that we've just harvested, for the first time, has been a record in every state. So that's quite significant because usually, if we have a poor year in the eastern states, Western Australia has a bonza year. But this time [there's] a record in each state for winter crop production," she said.
National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson welcomed the report.
"There's been a lot of talk about a golden era for agriculture. And I think figures like this really show that agriculture is on the rise.
"We have been contributing for many generations solidly to the GDP, but to see these sorts of increases, to see these sorts of numbers is extremely satisfying," she said.
"We think that agriculture is actually one of, if not the, fastest growing industries in Australia at the moment."
