Published Thursday, 15 November, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Latest figures highlight value of Queensland’s primary industries
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin today released a new report forecasting an increase in the value of many of Queensland’s primary industry production and processing sectors.
“Together, Queensland’s primary industry production and agricultural processing sectors are forecast to contribute $12.235 billion to the State’s economy in 2007-08,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The farm gate value of Queensland’s primary industry commodities is forecast at $9.425 billion in 2007-08, 2% higher than 2006-07, and the value of first-stage processing of agricultural commodities is forecast at $2.81 billion.”
The 2007-08 Prospects release signifies a slight change to methodology with some products and services, for instance in lifestyle horticulture and forestry, switched from the farm gate or GVP total to first-stage processing.
“At the farm gate, many industries are expected to post higher gross values in 2007-08 than the previous year,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“These include Queensland’s livestock industries; fruits such as bananas, pineapples, mandarins, strawberries and apples; tomatoes; cereal grains, such as wheat, barley, grain sorghum and maize; forestry and logging; and fisheries.
“Queensland’s livestock industries are looking good with gross value of production forecasts generally higher or at least the same as estimates for the previous year.
“Queensland’s cattle and calf industry continues to be the state’s largest primary industry with a forecast gross value of production of $3.73 billion in 2007-08, which accounts for almost 40 per cent of our total farm gate commodities.
“Cattle and calf slaughterings are expected to remain about the same at 3.9 million, though prices are expected to fall slightly due to the high value of the Australian dollar and US beef returning to Japan and Korea.
“Queensland’s fruit industries also have good prospects. High prices for bananas, pineapples, mandarins, strawberries and apples have boosted gross value of production forecasts from the previous year’s estimates.
“Similarly, high grain prices have resulted in higher gross value of production forecasts for wheat, barley, grain sorghum and maize.
“However, falls are expected in gross values of sugar cane, cotton, mangoes, avocados, macadamias, capsicums and cut flowers.
“While sugar cane production in Queensland in 2007-08 is forecast to fall by 3%.
“The gross value of Queensland's sugarcane production is now forecast at $730 million in 2007-08 -32% lower than 2006-07, due to a fall in world sugar prices and a strong Australian dollar.
“The drought is expected to continue to affect Queensland’s cotton industry with the gross value of production in 2007-08 forecast at $50 million, the lowest in the last 10 years.
“Forecasts for pigs, eggs, potatoes, nurseries and turf remain unchanged from last year’s estimates.
Further information can be found in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ publication, Prospects for Queensland’s Primary Industries (Prospects).
Prospects can be found on the DPI&F website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Media: 32396530
“Together, Queensland’s primary industry production and agricultural processing sectors are forecast to contribute $12.235 billion to the State’s economy in 2007-08,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The farm gate value of Queensland’s primary industry commodities is forecast at $9.425 billion in 2007-08, 2% higher than 2006-07, and the value of first-stage processing of agricultural commodities is forecast at $2.81 billion.”
The 2007-08 Prospects release signifies a slight change to methodology with some products and services, for instance in lifestyle horticulture and forestry, switched from the farm gate or GVP total to first-stage processing.
“At the farm gate, many industries are expected to post higher gross values in 2007-08 than the previous year,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“These include Queensland’s livestock industries; fruits such as bananas, pineapples, mandarins, strawberries and apples; tomatoes; cereal grains, such as wheat, barley, grain sorghum and maize; forestry and logging; and fisheries.
“Queensland’s livestock industries are looking good with gross value of production forecasts generally higher or at least the same as estimates for the previous year.
“Queensland’s cattle and calf industry continues to be the state’s largest primary industry with a forecast gross value of production of $3.73 billion in 2007-08, which accounts for almost 40 per cent of our total farm gate commodities.
“Cattle and calf slaughterings are expected to remain about the same at 3.9 million, though prices are expected to fall slightly due to the high value of the Australian dollar and US beef returning to Japan and Korea.
“Queensland’s fruit industries also have good prospects. High prices for bananas, pineapples, mandarins, strawberries and apples have boosted gross value of production forecasts from the previous year’s estimates.
“Similarly, high grain prices have resulted in higher gross value of production forecasts for wheat, barley, grain sorghum and maize.
“However, falls are expected in gross values of sugar cane, cotton, mangoes, avocados, macadamias, capsicums and cut flowers.
“While sugar cane production in Queensland in 2007-08 is forecast to fall by 3%.
“The gross value of Queensland's sugarcane production is now forecast at $730 million in 2007-08 -32% lower than 2006-07, due to a fall in world sugar prices and a strong Australian dollar.
“The drought is expected to continue to affect Queensland’s cotton industry with the gross value of production in 2007-08 forecast at $50 million, the lowest in the last 10 years.
“Forecasts for pigs, eggs, potatoes, nurseries and turf remain unchanged from last year’s estimates.
Further information can be found in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ publication, Prospects for Queensland’s Primary Industries (Prospects).
Prospects can be found on the DPI&F website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Media: 32396530