Livestock and Agricultural Field in Australia (2019)

The total value for Australian agricultural goods and livestock increased by 3%. These goods were valued at $60 billion despite droughts and other hazardous events.

Crops

The total number of crops increased one per cent and the figure was estimated at $30 billion. This increase occurred even after a large fall in the value of broadacre crops. These broadacre crops are considered to be more than half of the total value of crops. Moreover, even though several droughts affected the growth of broadacre crops in New South Wales and Queensland, there was a great increase in Western Australia. Nonetheless, the eventual outcome of horticultural crops was also mixed.

Important Crop Results for 2018/19

1. $3 billion dollars for barley marked a 32% increase from 2018.
2. $6 billion dollars of wheat were produced, marking a 9% increase from the previous year.
3. $4 billion for vegetables meant that the value had increased by 7% from 2018.
4. $5 billion for fruits and nuts marked a 9% increased from the previous year.
5. $34 million for rice, however, marked a severe decrease of 86% from 2018.

Livestock Related Products

In 2019, the total value of livestock, and its related products, increased by four percent. The figure, in 2019, was recorded at $31 billion. Hence, it can be concluded that there was an elevation in livestock slaughtering and disposals because of the gloomy environmental conditions.

Statistics for Livestock 2018/19

1. $13 billion for cattle and calves marked a 7% increase from 2018.
2. $1 billion worth of pigs, marking a 7% increase from the previous year.
3. $4 billion for sheep and lambs meant that there was a 5% increase from 2018.
4. $10 billion for livestock related products like milk, eggs and wool.

Impact of Environmental Hazards and COVID 19

In 2018-19 many Australian farmlands experienced severe droughts and other environmental calamities. Indeed, this has affected the production of crops and livestock. In fact, New South Wales and Queensland were especially affected by these unfortunate droughts.

As of the pandemic, which is quickly taking over the world, there were no such impacts witnessed in the farming world in 2018-19. Moreover, it seems that the bushfires have also had little impact in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital area. However, the ABS continues to analyze the potential effects of such events on the horticultural field.

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)