The Grains Industry: An overview of the Australian broad-acre cropping

Abstract

This report gives an overview of physical, socioeconomic and financial characteristics and best management practices of broadacre farming in several Australian Agroecological zones (WA Northern, WA Central, QLD Central, NSW ne/QLD se, SA-Vic Mallee and SA Midnorth – Lower Yorke Eyre zone). Average grain yields tend to be highest in Queensland Central and NSW ne/QLD se Agroecological zones. Lowest yields are found in the SA-Vic Mallee zone. Farm business profits highly vary between zones. During the period 2006-07 to 2008-09, highest business profits were realized in the Queensland Central zone. Average yearly farm business profits for WA Northern, SA-Vic Mallee and SA Midnorth Lower Yorke Eyre zone were estimated to be negative for this same period. Next to grains production, beef cattle is an important source of income in the northern regions (Queensland Central Zone, and to a lesser extent NSW ne / QLD se). In the southern and western regions, sheep and wool production is a more common source of income on broadacre farms (next to grains). Information about on-farm management practices that are considered to achieve enhanced productivity and environmental management is provided in this report. The most important best-management practices are no-tillage and stubble retention, which are widely adopted across Agroecological zones. We also briefly review corporate farming in Australian broadacre agriculture, showing that only 1.8% of all broadacre farms were considered to be corporate farms in 2013.