Published Tuesday, 19 December, 2006 at 02:08 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
AMENDED RELEASE: MIXED FORTUNES FOR QUEENSLAND’S PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
AMENDED RELEASE:
Queensland’s primary industries were likely to experience mixed fortunes in the 2006-07 financial year with the drought in the southern two-thirds of the state expected to continue to have a significant impact, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
“Revised forecasts for 2006-07 from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries value the state’s primary industries sector at $10.425 billion - $5 million less than the Department’s initial estimate for the year,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“Queensland’s largest primary industry sector, the cattle and calf industry, is valued at $3.175 billion, and accounts for almost a third (30%) of the total gross value of the state’s primary industries.
“The forecast for 2006-07 is 14% lower than the previous year, mainly because of moderate price falls as the US re-enters the north Asian markets and reduced quality of cattle slaughtered because of the effects of the drought on livestock.
“Declines in production of milk, cotton, chickpeas, soybeans and sunflower seed are not expected to be offset by price increases and, as a result, gross value of production for these commodities has been revised down from initial forecasts for the year,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“High prices and reduced production of winter and summer cereal grains are expected to push gross value of production of wheat, sorghum and maize up from the original forecast for the year.
“The gross value of barley is expected to remain the same, however, prices are higher and production is down.
“Gross value of sugarcane production is forecast at $970 million, up from the initial forecast of $920 million for the year. This is because of better prices and despite their being a smaller crop.
“Other changes to DPI&F’s initial forecasts are for mangoes and apples which are expected to fetch higher prices than originally expected, with gross values of $80 million and $40 million, respectively.’’
Seventy-one shires and four part shires, in Queensland have been drought-declared and there are 109 individually droughted properties in a further 18 shires. This is the equivalent of 62.5 % of the land area of Queensland.
Full details can be found in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ publication, Prospects Update December 2006. Prospects Update is available free of charge at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/prospects/
Media: 3239 6530
Queensland’s primary industries were likely to experience mixed fortunes in the 2006-07 financial year with the drought in the southern two-thirds of the state expected to continue to have a significant impact, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
“Revised forecasts for 2006-07 from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries value the state’s primary industries sector at $10.425 billion - $5 million less than the Department’s initial estimate for the year,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“Queensland’s largest primary industry sector, the cattle and calf industry, is valued at $3.175 billion, and accounts for almost a third (30%) of the total gross value of the state’s primary industries.
“The forecast for 2006-07 is 14% lower than the previous year, mainly because of moderate price falls as the US re-enters the north Asian markets and reduced quality of cattle slaughtered because of the effects of the drought on livestock.
“Declines in production of milk, cotton, chickpeas, soybeans and sunflower seed are not expected to be offset by price increases and, as a result, gross value of production for these commodities has been revised down from initial forecasts for the year,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“High prices and reduced production of winter and summer cereal grains are expected to push gross value of production of wheat, sorghum and maize up from the original forecast for the year.
“The gross value of barley is expected to remain the same, however, prices are higher and production is down.
“Gross value of sugarcane production is forecast at $970 million, up from the initial forecast of $920 million for the year. This is because of better prices and despite their being a smaller crop.
“Other changes to DPI&F’s initial forecasts are for mangoes and apples which are expected to fetch higher prices than originally expected, with gross values of $80 million and $40 million, respectively.’’
Seventy-one shires and four part shires, in Queensland have been drought-declared and there are 109 individually droughted properties in a further 18 shires. This is the equivalent of 62.5 % of the land area of Queensland.
Full details can be found in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ publication, Prospects Update December 2006. Prospects Update is available free of charge at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/prospects/
Media: 3239 6530