January 22, 2018
The six-month outlook for several of the South Burnett’s key agricultural crops looks positive, according to DAF’s latest AgTrends report.
Avocados and sorghum are both forecast to increase in value this financial year.
And while cattle have come slightly off the boil, the gross value of Queensland’s cattle production at the farm gate in 2017-18 is forecast to be $5.38 billion, which is 13 per cent higher than the average for the past five years.
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the total value of Queensland’s primary industry commodities for 2017-18 was estimated to be $19.87 billion.
This would be 5 per cent less than 2016-17 but still 11 per cent higher than the average for the past five years.
“There are a number of factors that are causing some industries to be down, while others are expected to increase in value,” Mr Furner said.
“For example, avocados are forecast to be $240 million, 44 per cent greater than the average for the past five years.
“And sorghum for the September quarter of 2017-18 is projected to be $359 million, which is 13 per cent higher than the average for the past five years.”
Mr Furner noted some agricultural commodities have dipped in value compared with previous years.
“There are a number of reasons for this lower forecast,” he said.
“Take beef, our most significant agricultural commodity, which entered a rebuilding phase following years of record cattle turn-off for processing and live export.
“The total value of cattle and calves is expected to be six per cent lower than 2016-17, but it is still Queensland’s single biggest agricultural commodity.”
The top Queensland agricultural commodities for 2017-18 are:
- Cattle and calves
- Sugar cane
- Cotton
- Chickpeas
- Bananas
- Poultry for meat
- Grain sorghum
- Wheat
- Tomatoes
- Avocados
The current AgTrends report can be downloaded from DAF’s website
