Agricultural Production in Australia Tom Loynachan January 30, 2008

Agriculture in Australia Overview of production Climate Soils Crops Livestock

Agriculture in Australia Agriculture industries in Australia comprise wide variety of crops, horticulture, viticulture, dairy, fiber, fisheries and livestock

Agriculture in Australia Country is slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states 3% of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product comes from agriculture 80% of all agricultural production is exported Australia remains the world's leading producer of wool, regularly supplying nearly one-third of the global total

Top Products by Values ( ) Millions of Australian $ Cattle and calves6,517 Wheat6,026 Milk3,245 Fruit and nuts2,915 Vegetables2,715 Wool2,138 Barley1,624 Poultry1,461 Lambs1,348 Sugar cane1,208

Melbourne: ’ S Springfield, MO: ’ N

32 in. = 800 mm

Irrigation in Australia is a widespread and required in many areas for production of crops for domestic and export use.

The gross value of irrigated agricultural production represents around a quarter (23%) of the gross value of agricultural commodities produced in Australia in , on less than 1% of agricultural land. Common crops produced using irrigation include rice, cotton, canola, sugar, various fruits and other tree crops and pasture, hay and grain for use in beef and dairy production.

Australian Rice Crop at Record Low December 04, 2007 AUSTRALIA'S rice crop is predicted to be the smallest on record due to the long-running drought, while cotton production is set to hit a 30-year low, the chief commodity forecaster said Tuesday.

Australia Looks to GM Crops after Scorching 2007 by Staff Writers Sydney (AFP) Jan 3, 2008 Australia's agriculture minister on Thursday hailed genetically modified crops as a means to help farmers combat climate change, as data showed 2007 was the country's sixth hottest year on record.

Soils One of the greatest natural resources. I include soils developed on a wide range of rock types and under climatic conditions varying from the alpine zones of south- eastern Australia and Tasmania, through the Mediterranean zones of southern and south-western Australia and the wet and dry tropics of Queensland, to the very low rainfall areas of the center.

Soil pH of Victoria

Wheat Australian wheat is a major competitor of US wheat exports Production concentrated in a narrow crescent know as the wheat belt, which receives approximately 400 to 600 mm average annual rainfall Grown as a ‘winter’ crop (autumn-winter-spring), often in rotation with some form of pasture

Virtually all rainfed Wheat crop normally averaged 25 m tonnes (2 nd to USA) m tonnes 1 metric tonne: = 1000 kg = a megagram (Mg) = 2205 lbs

Barley Produced same areas as wheat 60% feed barley, 40% malting barley >80% of malting barley exported (30% of world trade) Barley has 3 major end uses: Feed grain - it is a preferred grain for many feedlots and stockfeed manufacturers. Malt barley - for the production of beer and other foodstuffs. Forage - for grazing, hay or silage.

Australia cultivates an abundance of nuts, vegetables, and many tropical fruits, including: –Bananas –Apples –Potatoes –Carrots –Pineapple –Orange –Mango –Chestnuts –Tomatoes

Beef Industry Biggest agricultural enterprise >60% exported mainly to: –United States –Japan Benefitted recently because does not have mad cow disease

Breeds

Tropical breeds in north; temperate breeds in south In north, large cattle stations, grazing on native pastures at low stocking In south, more intensive grazing on smaller farms with introduced pastures and fodder crops Pasture fed dominates but feedlots rapidly developing

Dairy Dairy products are Australia's fourth most valuable agricultural export Not heavy regulation today…which has changed over the last 30 years Asia and Middle East are prime markets

Pork Produce about 5 million pigs annually 0.4% of world production Important for local employment and consumption

Fisheries About 1/3 of value from aquaculture (farming of aquatic organisms), which has been steadily rising Main seafood exports include rock lobsters, prawns, tuna, and shellfish

Questions