statistical integration in designing australian farm surveys · overview of australian agriculture...

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Statistical integration in designing Australian farm surveys

Milly Lubulwa

Manager, Farm Analysis Section

ABARE-BRS

Acknowledgements

Co-authors: Peter Martin, Walter Shafron and Bruce

Bowen [ABARE-BRS]

Comments and contributions: Members of the Farm


Comments and contributions: Members of the Farm

Analysis and Survey Collection and Administration

Sections [ABARE-BRS]

Adrian Bugg [ Australian Bureau of Statistics], Samia

Zakaria [Ethiopia Central Statistical Agency] and

Gero Carletto [World Bank]

ABARE-BRSAustralian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource

Economics – Bureau of Rural Sciences (ABARE–BRS)

• research bureau within the Australian Department

of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

• economic research, scientific analysis and advice


• economic research, scientific analysis and advice

on current and future policy challenges affecting

Australian primary industries

Agricultural zones in Australia


Overview of Australian agriculture• Value of Agricultural production $41 billion in 2009-10

• Agricultural exports of $29 billion (AUD) in 2009-10 -

more than 60 per cent of agricultural production in

most years

• Major source of employment in regional Australia –


• Major source of employment in regional Australia –

both on farm and in food manufacturing

• Major resource user - 65 per cent of total land area

used by agriculture and 70 per cent of total water use

Focus of the presentation

• Brief overview of Australian agriculture

• Two main surveys conducted annually by

ABARE-BRS [Broadacre and dairy industries

surveys]


surveys]

• Key elements which have made the farm surveys

successful

• Regionally based field collectors

Why conduct farm surveys?

Because of

• importance of agriculture to both the economy and rural

employment

• the volatility of farm incomes at the industry and regional


• the volatility of farm incomes at the industry and regional

level from year to year.

Data from farm surveys provide a factual basis for the

discussion and analysis of rural industry issues

The volatility of farm incomes

The volatility of farm incomes is mainly due to:

• The influence of weather and climate;

• Price of commodities; and


• Price of commodities; and

• Farm management practices.

Gulf country floodsGulf country floodsGulf country floodsGulf country floods


Farm cash income – broadacre farms

100

125

150

2009-10 $'000


0

25

50

75

1977-78 1981-82 1985-86 1989-90 1993-94 1997-98 2001-02 2005-06 2009-10p

Farm cash income

100

125

150

2009-10 $'000

Dairy industry


0

25

50

75

1977-78 1981-82 1985-86 1989-90 1993-94 1997-98 2001-02 2005-06 2009-10p

Farm cash income

150

200

250

grains

Average per farm


50

100

1999-00 2001-02 2003-04 2005-06 2007-08 2009-10p

2009-10

$‘000

beef

sheep

www.abare-brs.gov.auwww.abare-brs.gov.au

The success of ABARE-BRS farm surveys

The success of the farm surveys conducted by

ABARE-BRS has depended on a number of

critical elements including:

• use of high quality population lists for its sample


• use of high quality population lists for its sample

design,

• access to reliable financial information for farm

businesses,

• use of computer assisted collection and capture

methods,

The success of ABARE-BRS farm surveys

• data collection primarily based on face to face

interviews,

• the voluntary cooperation of respondents,

• integration of pre-existing data in sample


• integration of pre-existing data in sample

weighting procedures ;

• the use of skilled field officers and analysts and

• use of the Statistical Clearing House.

Regionally based field collectorsRegionally based field officers are required to;

• have a proven knowledge and understanding of

Australian agriculture

• have a general understanding of simple agricultural


• have a general understanding of simple agricultural

financial principles

• have good organisation skills and importantly good

work ethics

ConclusionElements which other countries can draw on include:

• Use of regionally based field collectors

• Use of an equivalent of a statistical clearing house to

quality control surveys conducted by different agencies

• Using the national collections in the design of farm


• Using the national collections in the design of farm

surveys and lastly

• Good record keeping by farmers.

Thank you


Science and economics for decision-makers

statistical integration in designing australian farm surveys · overview of australian agriculture...

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