{"id":291809,"date":"2020-12-21T19:00:07","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T09:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=291809"},"modified":"2020-12-21T19:00:07","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T09:00:07","slug":"ag-holds-firm-despite-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/12\/21\/ag-holds-firm-despite-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Ag ‘Holds Firm’ Despite Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Agriculture Minister Mark Furner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 21, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Queensland\u2019s agribusiness and food sector is holding firm in the face of COVID-19, according to the State Government, with new data showing the 2020-21 forecast value of primary industries commodities to be $18.4 billion.<\/p>\n

This is just 1 per cent lower than for 2019-20 but is 4 per cent\u00a0less than the average for the past five years.<\/p>\n

And for the fourth consecutive year, the forecast total value has decreased from the previous year, after one of\u00a0the worst droughts in more than 100 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact of the pandemic on Queensland\u2019s primary industries is expected to be a decrease of $87 million at the farm gate in 2020-21,\u201d Mr Furner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it could have been much worse and some sectors have actually thrived.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“In 2020-21, Queensland\u2019s bulk commodities and exports of high value products are expected to continue, while nursery sales have surged due to strong interest in home gardening.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, horticulture and seafood\u00a0producers have had to redirect produce, move\u00a0into value-added\u00a0products,\u00a0offer wage incentives such as bonuses and payments above the award rate, and\u00a0adjust\u00a0planting decisions.”<\/p>\n

Fruit and vegetables, cut flowers, forestry and fisheries will be the most affected, with a decrease of $179 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking ahead, forecast rainfall over the Queensland summer holds the promise of good news for the major cropping regions and grazing lands,\u201d Mr Furner said.<\/p>\n