ABARES’ annual sheep and beef grazing, cropping and dairy farm surveys are now underway.

ABARES executive director, Karen Schneider said survey collection officers will conduct face-to-face interviews over the next four months with more than 1900 selected farmers.

The data provided by these farmers helps ABARES build an accurate picture of the financial and production performance of broadacre and dairy farms across the nation.

“Participation is completely voluntary and confidential.

“However, the information survey participants provide helps every farmer to make informed decisions at the farmgate,” Ms Schneider said.

“And it allows industry and government to ensure policies and programs supporting the agriculture sector are based on the best available evidence.

“I encourage selected farmers to support the future of our industries through this survey.”

Ms Schneider said the survey was an opportunity to provide farmers, industry bodies and government with information essential to good business planning, investment and policy development. Participating farm businesses receive a report that contains their farm survey results, together with the average results for their region.

The ABARES annual broadacre industries survey is funded by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Grains Research & Development Corporation.

Results from past surveys of broadacre and dairy farms are available on the ABARES website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/publications.

Source: ABARES.