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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia, 2015

Research by the Australian Bureau of Agriculturaland Resource Economics and Sciences

About my region 15.42April 2015

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia, 2015 ABARES

© Commonwealth of Australia 2015

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ABARES 2015, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia, 2015, About my region 15.42, Canberra, April. CC BY 3.0.

ISBN 978-1-74323-110-4ABARES project 43009

Internet

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia 2015 is available at agriculture.gov.au/abares.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)

Postal address GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933Facsimile +61 2 6272 2001Email [email protected] agriculture.gov.au/abares

Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be sent to [email protected].

The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture, represented by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture, ABARES, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Acknowledgements

ABARES relies on the voluntary cooperation of farmers participating in the annual Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey, Australian Dairy Industry Survey, and Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey to provide data used in the preparation of this report. Without their help, these surveys would not be possible. ABARES farm survey staff collected most of the information presented in this report through on-farm interviews with farmers.

This regional profile was updated by Therese Thompson, Peter Martin, Haydn Valle, Timothy Connolly, Lucy Randall, Kasia Mazur and Sharan Singh.

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Contents1 Regional overview.................................................................................................................................. 1

Employment.............................................................................................................................................. 22 Agriculture sector................................................................................................................................... 4

Value of agricultural production......................................................................................................4Number and type of farms.................................................................................................................. 4Farm financial performance—Western Australia....................................................................6

3 Fisheries Sector..................................................................................................................................... 13

4 Forestry Sector...................................................................................................................................... 15

References........................................................................................................................................................... 16

TablesTable 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13......................................................5

Table 2 Financial performance, Western Australia broadacre industries, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm.................................................................................................................7

Table 3 Farm cash income of Western Australia broadacre farms, by region, 2013–14 to 2014–15, average per farm.................................................................................................................8

Table 4 Financial performance, Western Australia dairy industry, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm...................................................................................................................................11

Table 5 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses, Western Australia, 2012–13 and 2013–14...............................................................................12

FiguresFigure 1 Employment profile, Wheat Belt region, Western Australia, November 2014.....3

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Wheat Belt region, Western Australia, 2012–13.................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Wheat Belt region, Western Australia, 2012–13...............................................................................................5

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm................................7

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, grains industry, average per farm............................................9

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm.............................................10

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm...........................................11

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses, Western Australia, 2005–06 to 2013–14...........................................................................................................................12

Figure 9 Area of native forest, by tenure...............................................................................................15


MapsMap 1 Broad agricultural land use of the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia..............1

Map 2 Agricultural industries of the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia.......................2

Map 4 ABARES Australian broadacre zones and regions.................................................................8


1 Regional overviewThe Wheat Belt region is located in the south-west corner of Western Australia (Map 1). The region comprises 55 local government areas, and the major regional towns of Albany, Merredin, Moora, Northam, Southern Cross, Wagin and York. The region covers a total area of around 197 300 square kilometres or 8 per cent of Western Australia’s total area and is home to approximately 129 400 people (ABS 2011).

Agricultural land in the Wheat Belt region occupies 125 530 square kilometres, or 64 per cent of the region. Areas classified as conservation and natural environments (nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 61 110 square kilometres, or 31 per cent of the region. The most common land use by area is grazing modified pastures, which occupies 60 580 square kilometres or 31 per cent of the Wheat Belt region.

Map 1 Broad agricultural land use of the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)

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Map 2 Agricultural industries of the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)

EmploymentAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the 2014 Labour Force Survey indicate that around 65 200 people were employed in the Wheat Belt region. The Wheat Belt region accounts for 5 per cent of total employment in Western Australia and 25 per cent of all people employed in the Western Australia agriculture, forestry and fishing sector.

The health care and social assistance sector was the largest employment sector with 9300 people (Figure 1), followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employed 7700 people, which represented 11 per cent of the region’s workforce. Other important employment sectors in the region were retail trade (7200 people), and public administration and safety (5200 people), education and training (5100 people) and construction (5100 people).

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Figure 1 Employment profile, Wheat Belt region, Western Australia, November 2014

- 2 4 6 8 10

Arts and Recreation ServicesInformation Media and Telecommunications

Financial and Insurance ServicesRental, Hiring and Real Estate Services

MiningElectricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services

Administrative and Support ServicesOther Services

Transport, Postal and WarehousingAccommodation and Food Services

Wholesale TradeProfessional, Scientific and Technical Services

ManufacturingEducation and Training

ConstructionPublic Administration and Safety

Retail TradeAgriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Health Care and Social Assistance

Employed total ('000 )

Note: Annual average of the preceding 4 quarters.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 6291.0, Labour Force, Australia

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2 Agriculture sectorValue of agricultural productionIn 2012–13, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) in the Wheat Belt region was $3.8 billion, which was 38 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Western Australia ($6.7 billion). This is the most recent year for which ABS data are available.

The Wheat Belt region has an important agricultural sector. The most important commodity in the region based on the gross value of agricultural production was wheat (Figure 2). In 2012–13, wheat contributed 38 per cent ($1.5 billion) to the value of agricultural production in the Wheat Belt region. Canola contributed 14 per cent ($524 million) and barley 12 per cent ($474 million). Wool contributed 11 per cent ($421 million) and sheep and lambs 7 per cent ($272 million).

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Wheat Belt region, Western Australia, 2012–13

$m 500 1000 1500

Other

Eggs

Fruit and nuts (excluding grapes)

Vegetables

Cattle and calves

Hay

Oats

Sheep and lambs

Wool

Barley

Canola

Wheat

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia

Number and type of farmsABS data indicate that in 2012–13 there were 6103 farms in the Wheat Belt region with an estimated value of agricultural operations of more than $5000 (Table 1). The region contains 52 per cent of all farm businesses in Western Australia.

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Table 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13

Industry Classification

Western Australia - Wheat Belt region Western Australia

no. % no. %

Mixed grains and livestock 2 017 33 2 310 20

Grain growing 1 393 23 2 066 18

Sheep 945 15 1 309 11

Beef Cattle 567 9 2 162 19

Fruit and nuts 189 3 922 8

Mixed livestock 154 3 273 2

Other livestock 115 2 359 3

Other 724 12 2 279 20

Total Agriculture 6 103 100 11 680 100

Note: Where the estimated value of agricultural operations is more than $5000.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Farms are classified in Table 1 according to the activities that generate most of their value of production. Mixed grain and livestock farms (2017 farms) were the most common, accounting for 33 per cent of all farms in the Wheat Belt region, and 87 per cent of all mixed grain and livestock farms in Western Australia.

There is a large percentage of small farms in the region in terms of their value of agricultural output. Estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) is a measure of the value of production from farms and a measure of their business size. Around 21 per cent of farms in the Wheat Belt region had an EVAO of less than $50 000 (Figure 3). These farms accounted for only 1 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in 2012–13. In comparison, 49 per cent of farms in the region had an EVAO of more than $350 000 and accounted for an estimated 91 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in the region.

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Wheat Belt region, Western Australia, 2012–13

%

10

20

30

40

50

60

< $50k $50k to $150k $150k to $350k $350k to $500k $500k to $1 m > $1 m

Share of farms Share of value of agricultural operations

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

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Farm financial performance—Western AustraliaEach year, ABARES interviews Australian broadacre, dairy and vegetable producers as part of its annual survey program. Broadacre industries covered in this survey include the grains, grains–livestock, sheep, beef and sheep–beef industries. The information collected is a basis for analysing the current financial position of farms in these industries and expected changes in the short term. This paper uses data from the ABARES Australian agricultural and grazing industries survey (AAGIS), Australian dairy industry survey (ADIS), and Australian vegetable growing industry survey to report estimates of financial performance indicators (Box 1) for broadacre, dairy and vegetable farms in Western Australia.

Box 1 DefinitionsMajor financial performance indicators Total cash receipts: total revenues received by the business during the financial year. Total cash costs: payments made by the business for materials and services and for permanent and casual hired

labour (excluding owner manager, partner and family labour). Farm cash income: total cash receipts – total cash costs Farm business profit: farm cash income + changes in trading stocks – depreciation – imputed labour costs Profit at full equity: return produced by all the resources used in the business, farm business profit + rent +

interest + finance lease payments – depreciation on leased items Rate of return: return to all capital used, profit at full equity * 100 / total opening capital Equity ratio: Farm capital minus farm debt expressed as a percentage of farm capitalIndustry types Grains: farms mainly engaged in producing broadacre crops such as wheat, coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses, and

including farms running sheep and/or beef cattle in conjunction with substantial broadacre crop activity. Sheep: farms mainly engaged in running sheep. Beef: farms mainly engaged in running beef cattle. Dairy: farms mainly engaged in milk production. Vegetable: farms mainly engaged in growing vegetables.

Performance of broadacre farms—Western AustraliaA decline in winter grain production after the record crop production in Western Australia in 2013–14 and lower wheat prices are projected to result in a decrease in average farm cash income in Western Australia (Figure 4 and Table 2), particularly in the Central and South Wheat Belt (Table 3). The impact of the reduction in crop production on receipts is expected to be partly offset by pool payments received in 2014–15 for grain delivered in 2013–14 and by increased receipts from sheep and lambs resulting from higher prices.

In the northern pastoral regions of the Kimberley and Pilbara, increased sales of beef cattle for live export and higher beef cattle prices are projected to increase farm receipts and raise average farm cash income.

Overall, Western Australian broadacre farm cash incomes are projected to decrease to average $211 000 a farm in 2014–15. If achieved, this would still be around 30 per cent above the 10-year average to 2013–14.

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Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

250

300

Australia Western Australia

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Table 2 Financial performance, Western Australia broadacre industries, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Performance indicator units 2012–13 2013–14p RSE 2014–15yTotal cash receipts $ 710 890 919 000 (7) 846 000Total cash costs $ 551 450 656 000 (6) 635 000Farm cash income $ 159 430 263 000 (12) 211 000Farms with negative farm cash income % 24 21 (21) 18Farm business profit $ 22 690 153 700 (22) 70 000Profit at full equity excluding capital appreciation $ 107 890 245 400 (15) 156 000Farm capital at 30 June a $ 5 217 740 5 347 600 (6) naFarm debt at 30 June b $ 1 006 560 1 078 900 (9) 1 051 000Equity ratio bd % 80 79 (2) naRate of return excluding capital appreciation e % 2.1 4.7 (13) 3.0Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b $ 27 980 24 400 (14) na

a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Farm capital minus farm debt. d Equity expressed as a percentage of farm capital. e Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. p Preliminary estimates. y Provisional estimates. na Not Available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate providedSource: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

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Table 3 Farm cash income of Western Australia broadacre farms, by region, 2013–14 to 2014–15, average per farm

Regionunit

s2013–

14p RSE 2014–

15y511: WA Kimberly $ 232 500 (46) 636 000512: WA Pilbara and Southern Rangelands $ 153 600 (102) 372 000521: WA Central and South Wheat Belt $ 339 200 (13) 185 000522: WA North and East Wheat Belt $ 268 700 (28) 370 000531: WA South West $ 55 700 (41) 70 000

p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Map 3 ABARES Australian broadacre zones and regions

Note: Each region is identified by a unique code of three digits. The first digit identifies the state or territory, the second digit identifies the zone and the third digit identifies the region.Source: ABARES

Performance of grains industry farms—Western AustraliaTotal winter crop production in Western Australia increased by 53 per cent in 2013–14 compared with 2012–13 to a record high with well above average yields. As a result, total crop receipts increased by 40 per cent on grains industry farms. On mixed enterprise farms, the large increase in crop receipts were combined with smaller increases in lamb, sheep and wool receipts. Total cash costs also increased in 2013–14 due to higher expenditure on fertiliser, crop chemicals, fuel and higher freight and handling costs associated with harvesting a larger crop than in 2012–13. Expenditure on repairs and maintenance also increased as producers made use of higher cash flow. Farm cash income for Western Australian grains industry farms increased to the historical high of $416 600 a farm in 2013–14 (Figure 5).

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In 2014–15, Western Australia winter crop production is estimated to have declined by 16 per cent from the record 2013–14. The impact of lower crop production on farm receipts is expected to be partly offset by pool payments for grain delivered in 2013–14 and by increased receipts from sheep and lambs, on mixed enterprise farms. Total cash costs are also estimated to decrease in 2014–15 due to lower expenditure on fuel, livestock purchases, repairs and maintenance and interest payments compared with 2013–14. Farm cash income for Western Australian grains industry farms is projected to decrease to around $282 000 a farm in 2014–15, still around 27 per cent above the industry average for the previous 10 years.

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, grains industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450


p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of beef industry farms—Western Australia In 2013–14, higher beef cattle turn-off and a small increase in the average price received for beef cattle sold resulted in a small increase in average farm cash receipts for Western Australian beef industry farms. Higher farm receipts were partly offset by increase in farm cash costs, particularly expenditure on fertiliser, interest payments, crop and pasture chemicals and fuel. As a result, average farm cash income for Western Australian beef industry farms increased only slightly to an average of $60 300 a farm in 2013–14 (Figure 6).

In 2014–15, higher beef cattle prices and a further increase in beef cattle turn-off in the pastoral regions of the Kimberley and Pilbara are projected to result in an increase in average farm receipts of around 10 per cent. In addition, total cash costs are estimated to decline slightly with reduced expenditure on interest payments, fuel and beef cattle purchases. Farm cash income is projected to increase to average $130 000 a farm in 2014–15, around 70 per cent above the average farm cash income for the 10 years ending 2013–14.

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Figure 6 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm

–50

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150


p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of dairy industry farms— Western AustraliaIn 2013–14 average farm cash incomes increased in most states as a result of higher milk prices. Nationally, average farm cash income increased from $44 130 in 2012–13 to $163 900 in 2013–14. In Western Australia, there was a small increase in the average milk price received and despite a reduction in milk production, average farm cash receipts increased. The increase in farm receipts was partly offset by higher farm cash costs. Nevertheless, for Western Australian dairy farms, average farm cash income is estimated to have increased from $133 370 in 2012–13 to $161 300 in 2013–14 (Figure 7 and Table 4).

In 2014–15, a small increase is expected in milk production in Western Australia. Higher milk production in combination with a small increase in average farmgate milk price is projected to result in average farm cash income for Western Australian dairy farms increasing slightly to average $166 000 a farm. This is around 2 per cent above the average for the previous 10 years, in real terms.

Nationally, the average farm cash income of Australian dairy farms is projected to decrease in 2014–15 with a lower farmgate milk prices in most states and regions except Western Australia, northern New South Wales and Queensland. Overall, the average farm cash income of Australian dairy farms is projected to decrease to average $97 000 a farm in 2014–15, around 14 per cent below the 10-year average to 2013–14.

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Figure 7 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

250

300

350


p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

Table 4 Financial performance, Western Australia dairy industry, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Performance indicator units 2012–13 2013–14p RSE 2014–15yFarm cash income $ 133 370 161 300 (10) 166 000Farm business profit a $ 75 710 70 900 (31) 31 000Rate of return excluding capital appreciation b % 1.8 2.1 (18) 1.5

a Defined as farm cash income plus buildup in trading stocks, less depreciation and the imputed value of operator partner and family labour. b Defined as profit at full equity, excluding capital appreciation, as a percentage of total opening capital. Profit at full equity is defined as farm business profit plus rent, interest and lease payments less depreciation on leased items. p Preliminary estimates. y Provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

Performance of vegetable industry farms—Western AustraliaNationally in 2013–14, average farm cash income is estimated to have declined to $156 000, 4 per cent lower than in 2012–13. Average to above average seasonal conditions helped growers to maintain the high yields of 2012–13. Overall vegetable production was also higher because the average area planted to vegetable crops increased. However, the resulting increase in vegetable cash receipts was partially offset by lower vegetable prices.

Average farm cash income in Western Australia increased in 2012–13 to $273 600 (Table 5), 12 per cent higher than the eight-year average (in real terms) to 2012–13 (Figure 8). Yields were slightly lower, although an increase in the total area planted and higher prices for most vegetables resulted in increased total cash receipts. Production of onions and carrots increased, but declined for broccoli and lettuce, mostly reflecting the change in the area planted to these vegetables.

Average farm cash income is estimated to have increased further in 2013–14 to an average of $321 000 (Table 5), the highest estimated average farm cash income (in real terms) for

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vegetable growing farms in the state since ABARES began surveying in 2007 (Figure 8). Although farmgate prices for most of the main vegetable commodities are estimated to have decreased, the area planted to vegetables increased and yields remained about the same as 2012–13, increasing overall production and holding up vegetable cash receipts. Average total cash costs decreased as a result of reduced expenditure on capital items such as repairs and maintenance, plant hire and interest paid.

Table 5 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses,Western Australia, 2012–13 and 2013–14

average per farmSelected estimates units 2012–13 p RSE % Change

from 2011–122013–14 y RSE % Change

from 2012–13Vegetable cash receipts $ 1 044 600 (13) 1 1 062 000 (27) 2Area sown to vegetables ha 28.5 (17) 18 30.8 (26) 8Quantity of vegetables produced t 1 184 (20) 18 1 409 (31) 19Farm cash income $ 273 600 (6) 6 321 000 (33) 21

Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate. Updated data for vegetable farm businesses will be available November 2015.Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses,Western Australia, 2005–06 to 2013–14

average per farm

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2008

–09

2009

–10

2010

–11

2011

–12

2012

–13

p

2013

–14

y

$'0002013–14

Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

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3 Fisheries SectorThe Wheat Belt of Western Australia surrounds the Bunbury and Greater Perth regions in the south-west of the state. Its coastline includes a stretch on the west coast north of Perth, and a stretch on the southern coast around Albany. The coastal areas include the West Coast and South Coast bioregions (Fletcher & Santoro 2012). The most valuable capture fishing activities include western rocklobster production in the West Coast bioregion, and abalone, southern rock lobster in the South Coast bioregion. Oyster Harbour at Albany is also a key area for aquaculture oyster and mussel farming.

In 2012–13, the gross value of Western Australian fisheries production (both aquaculture and wild-catch) was $426.8 million, an increase of 10 per cent ($37.6 million) from 2011–12. Western Australia accounted for 18 per cent of the total value of Australian fisheries production in 2012–13. In value terms, the wild-catch sector accounted for around 78 per cent ($330.8 million) of the state’s total production and the aquaculture sector accounted for the remaining 22 per cent ($96 million).

Western Australia’s wild-catch sector is dominated by the production of western rocklobster, which accounted for around 72 per cent of the state’s total wild-catch production in 2012–13. Other major wild-catch seafood products include prawns (8 per cent of value of state production in 2012–13) and abalone (3 per cent). Over the past decade the real value of Western Australian wild-caught fisheries is estimated to have declined by 42 per cent. The decline in value was mostly driven by a 54 per cent decline in total production volume.

The product for which the real value of production declined most over the past decade is western rocklobster, falling by 36 per cent to $237 million in 2012–13. This was the result of a 47 per cent reduction in the volume caught. A large proportion of rocklobster production is exported, mostly to Hong Kong. Exchange rate movements have a significant effect on the value of rocklobster exports and, in turn, production.

Prawns also account for a significant proportion of Western Australian wild-catch production, accounting for an estimated 11 per cent and 8 per cent of the total volume and value, respectively, of wild-catch production in 2012–13. The real value of prawn production decreased by 19 per cent to $26.7 million in 2012–13. This reflects mostly a 23 per cent decline in production volume.

The main Commonwealth fishery active in the Wheat Belt region is the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery. Target species for the fishery include striped marlin, swordfish, albacore, bigeye tuna, longtail tuna and yellowfin tuna. There has been very little fishing activity in this fishery in recent years.

The value of Western Australian aquaculture has generally declined over the past decade by 44 per cent to $96 million in 2012–13. Most of the decline in the value of Western Australian aquaculture can be attributed to a decline in the value of pearl oyster production.

The value of aquaculture production in 2012–13 declined by 12 per cent ($13 million) to $96 million. This decline was mainly the result of a $14 million decline (15 per cent) in the value of pearl production. Pearls are the most valuable aquaculture product in the state and contributed around 83 per cent ($79 million) of aquaculture production value in 2012–13. The edible seafood component of Western Australia’s aquaculture sector accounted for 17 per cent ($16.8 million) of total aquaculture production value in 2012–13.

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In 2012–13, Western Australia’s seafood product exports were valued at $303.9 million, representing a 24 per cent increase in value compared with 2011–12. The main export seafood product is western rocklobster, which accounted for 93 per cent of the state’s exports of seafood in 2012–13. Other major export seafood products include prawns (4 per cent) and abalone (2 per cent).

Vietnam and Hong Kong are the major destination for Western Australian seafood exports, accounting for around for 48 per cent and 33 per cent of the total value of exports in 2011–12 respectively. Other major export destinations include Japan (6 per cent) and the United States (6 per cent).

Recreational fishing is a popular activity in Western Australia, with an estimated 643 000 people fishing recreationally in the state (Government of Western Australia 2013). Most of the activity is in the Perth and surrounding area owing to the large proportion of the Western Australia population living in that region. It also makes a significant contribution to the state economy and attracts thousands of visitors to regional Western Australia each year (Government of Western Australia 2013). There is also a large charter boat sector providing recreational fishing experiences to local, interstate and international tourists.

The Wheat Belt region includes estuaries and beaches on the west and south coast where recreational fishing for Australian herring, whiting (especially King George whiting), silver trevally, black bream, prawns and blue swimmer crab is popular (Henry and Lyle 2003).

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Leasehold forest (479 700 ha—13.2%)

Multiple-use public forest (420 300 ha—11.6%)

Nature conservation reserve (1 247 900 ha—34.4%)

Other Crown land (744 200 ha—20.5%)

Private land (including Indigenous) (739 900 ha—20.3%)

Unresolved tenure (0 ha—0.0%)


4 Forestry SectorIn 2010–11, the total plantation area in the Wheat Belt region was approximately 226 500 hectares, comprised of approximately 183 000 hectares of hardwood plantations and 35 000 hectares of softwood plantations. The main hardwood species planted is blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and the main softwood species planted are maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) and radiata pine (P. radiata).

In 2011, there were approximately 3.6 million hectares of native forests in the Wheat Belt region, comprised mainly of Eucalypt medium woodland (1.3 million hectares), Eucalypt mallee woodland (1.2 million hectares), Eucalypt medium open (516 800 hectares), Eucalypt low open (108 200 hectares), Eucalypt low woodland (98 200 hectares) and Acacia (86 600) forest types. Approximately 1.2 million hectares of native forests are in nature conservation reserves (1.2 million hectares), 739 900 hectares are privately owned, 479 700 hectares are leasehold forest and 420 300 hectares are multiple-use public forest available for timber production. Major export and timber processing industries are located in Albany, Mount Barker and Dwellingup.

Figure 9 Area of native forest, by tenure

Source: ABARES Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013

Total sales and service income for the Western Australia forest and wood product industry was estimated at approximately $1.3 billion in 2012–13, of which $997 million was from wood product sales and the remaining $326 million was from the sale of paper and paper products. Western Australia produces and exports a range of forest products including woodchips. In 2010–11, Western Australia exported 1.6 million tonnes of woodchips valued at approximately $326 million. In 2011–12, the volume and value of woodchip exports both declined, to 1.5 million tonnes and $287 million respectively. In 2011, Western Australia’s forestry sector employed 5 580 workers (0.5 per cent of the total employed workforce in Western Australia) compared with 5 972 (0.5 per cent) in 2006 (number of people employed includes forestry support services and timber wholesaling).

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ReferencesABS 2011, Census of Population and Housing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014a, Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2012–2013, cat. no. 7121.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014b, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Nov 2014, cat. no. 6291.0.55.003, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014c, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2012–13, cat. no. 7503.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics-Bureau of Rural Sciences 2010, Land use of Australia 2005-06, Version 4, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.

ABARES 2014, Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014. Department of Agriculture. http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20140506_11a.xml

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences 2014, Australian forest and wood products statistics: March and June quarters 2014, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

Fletcher, W & Santoro, K (eds). 2012, Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia 2011/12:The State of the Fisheries Department of Fisheries, Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia 2013, Recreational Fishing Guide 2013 – simpler rules for better fishing, Department of Fisheries, Perth.

Henry, GW & Lyle, JM (eds) 2003, The National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey, FRDC project no. 99/158, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.

Montreal Process Implementation Group for Australia and National Forest Inventory Steering Committee 2013, Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

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http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20140506_11a.xml

Documents

Regional overview - Australian Natural Resources Data Librarydata.daff.gov.au/data/warehouse/9aa/regionalReports/... · Web viewApproximately 1.2 million hectares of native forests