For a long time, Australia has been known for its world-leading agricultural products, so much so that it has become a large part of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Australia currently exports more agricultural products than it imports, with around 65 per cent of the total agricultural production sent overseas.
As agriculture plays such a large role in our economy, our industry is one of the most advanced in the world, with our farming equipment and technology continuing to make leaps and bounds in innovation and improvements.
Before we explore how innovative equipment and machinery impacts agricultural production, let’s look closer at the biggest (by value generated from export) products in Australia.
Top 5 agricultural export products
According to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the top five agricultural export products by value in 2015 were:
Beef (Generating a value of $7,401 million)
Wheat (Generating a value of $4,853 million)
Sheep meats and other meat (Generating a value of $3,575 million)
Wool (Generating a value of $3,021 million)
Alcoholic beverages (Generating a value of $2,587 million)
These five products make up the large majority of agricultural products exported internationally, but our farmers also produce and export large amounts of fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and sugars, molasses and honey. While our export industry has grown and developed over the years, livestock products like meat, dairy and wool have a long history as part of agriculture in Australia.
In recent years, a large percentage of export trade products have been sent to Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries, which is a free trade agreement set up between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam in 2018.
While the TPP agreement is making a big impact on exports, when looking at the countries globally that are the greatest importers of Australian agricultural products, the biggest by far remains China. As of 2016, exports to China made up 19.9% of the total export market share.
Following China, the countries that Australia exports to most are:
Japan
United States
Republic of Korea
Indonesia
India
New Zealand
Vietnam
Hong Kong
Singapore
Australia’s most productive agricultural regions
While the production of our top agricultural products occurs across the country, there are key states and regions that produce the largest quantities. This is due to many reasons, but physical environment and climate are the major factors.
According to data from Nations Encyclopedia, farming systems of wheat and sheep production are largely spread between New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. That’s because these temperate and grassland regions are most ideal for raising sheep and producing successful wheat crops.
Beef on the other hand is largely produced in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, which are a mixture of temperate, grassland, and subtropical climates.
As we’ve seen in recent years, weather events play a big part in how successful and productive Australian farms are, which therefore impacts global exports. Flooding, drought, fires, and cold snaps wreak havoc on farming regions across Australia and have become more extreme and frequent.
These impacts may have lasting effects on productive agricultural regions and how Australia approaches farming. What it does highlight is the need for farms to be adaptive and prepared for changing conditions.
For many, this means relying on farming equipment and practices that ensure the health and quality of their livestock, as well as reducing expenses.
Leading farming equipment
Given that meat and livestock in Australia make up the large majority of agricultural products, there is high demand for machinery and equipment that not only makes farmers' lives easier, but also helps deliver the best possible livestock product.
The most commonly used farming equipment, including tractors, feed out carts, and cattle crushes, contribute to livestock farming practices. They make feeding, managing, moving, and processing livestock faster and easier on a large scale, helping to increase production and farm bottom lines.
Due to the heavy reliance on this type of equipment, the agriculture industry and manufacturers continue to innovate technology to ensure longevity and usability. To keep up with Australian farming practices and demands, modern machinery needs to include things like:
Automation
Durable materials
Adaptable systems
Simple designs and applications
Versatility
To learn more about how WMI Feeders’ innovative bale feeders and feed out carts provide the best results for Australian farmers, take a look at our range of leading products here or speak to one of our friendly team members today.
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