Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Help for those affected by flood

Visit nema.gov.au.

Close
ABARES

Top navigation abares

  • Department
  • Ministers
  • Media Centre
Main menu

Main navigation ABARES

  • ABARES Home
    ABARES Home
  • About
    About
  • Research topics
    Research topics
  • Products
    Products
  • Data
    Data
  • News
    News
  • Conferences and events
    Conferences and events
  • Careers
    Careers
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. DAFF Home
  2. ABARES
  3. News and media
  4. Snapshot illustrates agriculture's evolution and growth

Back to news - ABARES

  • Back to news

Snapshot illustrates agriculture's evolution and growth

  • Media release
  • ABARES
  • Agriculture
  • Trade
2 March 2022

A new ABARES report today shows the agriculture sector has consolidated recent gains in production growth with a record $75 billion in production in 2020-21.

ABARES Executive Director Jared Greenville said the latest ABARES Insights report: Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2022 demonstrated that while there have been fluctuations, the agriculture sector was still on an upward trajectory.

“Because we export most of what we produce, maintaining competitiveness on international markets has been the key to growth over the longer term,” Dr Greenville said.

“This has involved changes within the industry – for example, broadacre farms continuing to get bigger – and access to export markets has also been important.

“Over the past 15 years, Australia's trade agreements have provided access to new and growing markets. This also helps when there are disruptions to international markets by making sure we’ve got a variety of options.

“The ability of Australian farmers to adapt to changing conditions and risks has been impressive.

“Despite the challenges presented by higher temperatures and lower rainfall over the last few decades, we’ve seen productivity continue to increase as farmers continue to adapt.

“For example, ABARES surveys show that farms are actively increasing their resilience to drought by improving soil water retention, increasing fodder and grain storage and de-stocking early in low rainfall periods to preserve groundcover.”

The report provides an overview of the industry, summarising key issues with descriptive statistics.

It also notes:

  • Increased volume has been the main driver of growth in the cropping sector and higher prices have driven growth in the livestock sector.
  • Farm sizes have increased, in terms of both total receipts and land area, as the number of farms has decreased.
  • Labour is a key input to Australian agriculture and total farm employment varies throughout the year in line with the timing of relatively labour-intensive operations.
  • The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian agricultural workforce have been most directly felt in the horticulture sector. The total number of workers used by Australian horticulture farms declined by around 8% (11,000 workers) from 2019–20 to 2020–21. 
  • While Australian farmers have adapted to the pressures of a trend towards higher temperatures and lower winter rainfall over recent decades, adaptation will need to continue and pressure to adapt is likely to vary significantly between industries and regions.
  • Government support of Australia's agricultural sector is very low compared to the 37 member OECD countries.
  • Australia's trade agreements with major trading partners have provided access to new and growing markets over the past 15 years.

Read ABARES Insights report: Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2022.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Contact us

Agriculture:

media@agriculture.gov.au

(61 2) 6272 3232

Related

Image of large school of fish swimming in blue waters

Aquaculture increases contribution to seafood production

  • Media release
  • ABARES
14 December 2022
Farmer picking fruits

Hands-free horticulture sees higher production

  • Media release
  • ABARES
07 December 2022
Image of a wheat field

A bumper year for agriculture despite flooding

  • Media release
  • ABARES
06 December 2022
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 07 June 2022

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.