Sharp rebound in farm production

AUSTRALIA - Australian agriculture has bounced back strongly from the drought, with production for 2003-04 rising by 12 per cent to $36.6 billion, the latest Bureau of Statistics figures show. Recovery from the drought in many regions lifted crop production dramatically, but in contrast, livestock slaughterings increased in value only slightly, while the value of livestock products actually fell, with wool the worst hit, according to the ABS.

The value of sheep and lamb slaughterings was steady at $2 billion, with the domestic market up 9 per cent to $1.8 billion as a 12 per cent fall in slaughterings was offset by a 23 per cent price rise. In contrast, the value of live sheep and lamb exports fell by 35 per cent to $270 million.

Pig slaughterings fell in value by 4 per cent to $878 million. Poultry was steady at $1.3 billion.

1 February 2005