Agriculture is vital to Australia's economy, environment, and social fabric. Agriculture accounts for a large portion of all land use in Australia, thus managing this land sustainably is vital for both farm operations and the general population. Many sustainable land practices are now normal practice among Australian farmers (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, 2023).

Agriculture accounts for more than half (55%) of Australia's land use, and we currently export more agricultural products than we import, with approximately 70% of total agricultural production exported (Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, n.d.). The value of what was exported in 2018-2019 was about $49 billion, with beef being the largest exporter, followed closely by wheat.

According to research on Australian farming conducted in December 2020-2022, agriculture in Australia accounted for 55% of Australian land use (427 million hectares) (excluding timber production), 24% of water extractions (2809 gigalitres), 11.6% of goods and services exports, 2.4% of value added (GDP), and 2.5% of employment.

Agriculture is vital not just to Australia, but also to the rest of the world, with 361.5 million hectares (36.76%) in the United States, 168.7 million hectares (17.5%) in China, and 427 million hectares (55%) in Australia.

Our principal agricultural commodities, according to the most recent official estimates, are grains and oil seeds (29.8%), beef (24.0%), industrial crops (sugar, cotton, and wine) (13.5%), wool (7.0%), dairy (6.6%), and horticulture (4.5%). Farmers in Australia may produce a wide range of cold weather, warm weather, and tropical foods due to the large range and differences in climate and elevation (Jacobs, n.d.).

Agriculture and farming in modern Australia provide numerous obstacles. Climate change, variations in rainfall, fire, flood, the need to invest in infrastructure and technology, diminishing commodity prices, worker accommodation, worldwide pandemics, and a serious scarcity of qualified workers are the difficulties that Australian agriculturalists confront today.

Bibliography

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 2023. Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2023. [Online]

Available at: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/products/insights/snapshot-of-australian-agriculture

[Accessed 31 05 2023].

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, n.d. Agricultural and food trade. [Online] 

Available at: https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/trade-investment/trade-at-a-glance/trade-at-a-glance-2015/agriculture-and-food-trade#:~:text=Australia%20currently%20exports%20more%20agricultural,exports%20was%20almost%20%2449%20billion.

[Accessed 31 05 2023].

Jacobs, K., n.d. Agriculture in Australia: an overview. [Online] 

Available at: https://au.prosple.com/career-planning/agriculture-in-australia-an-overview

[Accessed 31 05 2023].