Agriculture - Statistics - Darling Downs (SD)
Darling Downs (SD)
Introduction
Darling Downs Statistical Division consists of flat plains of rich, black volcanic soils which produce most of the State's wheat, oilseeds and fruit, about half of of its maize and about a third of its tobacco. It also produces oats, sorghum, millet, cotton, soybeans and navy beans. It is a major sheep, cattle and dairying area and the home of several famous boldstock studs. The climate is cooler and more bracing than the rest of the State
Toowoomba, 138 km west of Brisbane, is on the rim of the Great Dividing Range and is the commercial centre of the Division. It has butter and cheese factories, sawmills, flourmills, tanneries, engineering and railway workshops, an iron foundry and clothing and shoe factories.
Warwick is 82 km south of Toowoomba and approximately 160 km south-west of Brisbane. It was established in 1849 and was the second town in what became Queensland. In 1917, while campaigning for conscription, the then Prime Minister Billy Hughes, was hit by an egg . Local police refused to arrest the person who threw the egg and the result was the establishment of the Commonwealth Police Force. The surrounding pastoral area is famous for horse and cattle studs and wool. Fruit, vegetables and timber all grow well and it's dairy products and bacon are famous.
Pittsworth, 40 km south of Toowoomba, is surrounded by irrigated grain and cotton fields and is also known for it's cheese. Dalby, 84 km north of Toowoomba, is the centre of the State's richest wheat area. Cattle, pigs and sheep further add to the area's wealth. Chinchilla is 354 km west of Brisbane and grain growing is the main industry as well as cattle, sheep, pigs, timber, grapes and watermelon.
The figures reported here are a subset of the Agricultural Census data from 1982/1983 to 1996/1997 published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, AgStats). The data has been analysed by the Bureau of Rural Sciences using a consistent geographic base. Further information about the data is available from the Australian Spatial Data Directory
The figures and text are reproduced with permission of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, © Commonwealth of Australia, 2000.
Statistics
Area of region (ha): 9,008,811.84
Area
Agroforestry
- Area of Seedlings Sown (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 35 )
- Area of Seed Sown (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 4.0 )
Apples
- Number of Apples Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 379,452 )
- Number of Apples Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 501,145 )
- Kilograms of Apples produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 28,360,728 )
Berry Fruit
- Area of Strawberries not yet bearing (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 0.5 )
- Area of Strawberries bearing (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 1.6 )
- Kilograms of Strawberries produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 9,250 )
Cattle and Calves
- Number of Milk Cows (in Milk and Dry) at 31 March (Value in 1996/1997 = 45,119 )
- Number of Meat Cattle at 31 March (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,398,713 )
Cereals excluding Rice
- Area of Wheat produced for grain (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 391,079 )
- Tonnes of Wheat produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 380,132 )
- Area of Oats produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 10,369 )
- Tonnes of Oats produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 5,876 )
- Area of Barley produced for grain (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 143,881 )
- Tonnes of Barley produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 174,620 )
- Area of Grain Sorghum produced for grain (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 269,096 )
- Tonnes of Grain Sorghum produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 733,574 )
- Area of Maize produced for grain (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 10,842 )
- Tonnes of Maize produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 40,934 )
- Area of Millet and Panicum produced for grain (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 17,040 )
- Tonnes of Millet and Panicum produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 21,559 )
- Area of Triticale produced for grain (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 4,929 )
- Tonnes of Triticale produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 7,181 )
- Area of Cereal crops cut for hay (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 11,664 )
- Tonnes of Cereal crops cut for hay (Value in 1996/1997 = 29,160 )
Citrus
- Number of Orange Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 219 )
- Number of Orange Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,226 )
- Kilograms of Oranges produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 23,079 )
- Number of Lemon and Lime Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 92 )
- Number of Lemons and Limes Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 3 )
- Kilograms of Lemons and Limes produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 794 )
- Number of Mandarin Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 306 )
- Number of Mandarin Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 24 )
- Kilograms of Mandarins produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 2,730 )
Cotton
- Area of Cotton - Irrigated (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 41,258 )
- Kilograms of Cotton - Irrigated - produced for seed (Value in 1996/1997 = 124,814,626 )
- Area of Cotton - Non Irrigated (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 39,786 )
- Kilograms of Cotton - Non Irrigated - produced for seed (Value in 1996/1997 = 62,615,123 )
Grapes
- Area of Grapes (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 442 )
- Tonnes of Grapes - total produced (fresh weight) (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,196 )
Legumes
- Area of Mung Beans (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 11,259 )
- Tonnes of Mung Beans produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 5,735 )
- Area of Soybeans (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 3,140 )
- Tonnes of Soybeans produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 4,596 )
- Area of Lupins produced for grain (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 127 )
- Tonnes of Lupins produced for grain (Value in 1996/1997 = 37 )
- Area of Peanuts (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,278 )
- Kilograms of Peanuts produced (in shell) (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,748,837 )
- Area of Chick Peas (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 16,443 )
- Tonnes of Chick Peas produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 10,274 )
- Area of Faba Beans (including Tick and Horse) (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,475 )
- Tonnes of Faba Beans (including Tick and Horse) produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,797 )
Nuts
- Number of Macadamia Trees 6 years and under (Value in 1996/1997 = 5,850 )
- Number of Macadamia Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 3,410 )
- Kilograms of Macadamia produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 11,250 )
Oilseeds
- Area of Canola (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 160 )
- Tonnes of Canola produced (clean seed) (Value in 1996/1997 = 50 )
- Area of Safflower (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 25 )
- Tonnes of Safflower produced (clean Seed) (Value in 1996/1997 = 31 )
- Area of Sunflower (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 8,578 )
- Tonnes of Sunflower produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 9,318 )
Other Livestock
- Number of Deer (Value in 1996/1997 = 2,587 )
- Number of Horses Stud (Value in 1996/1997 = 6,749 )
- Number of Livestock not elsewhere considered (short form) (Value in 1996/1997 = 13,811 )
Other Non-Cereal Crops
- Area of Tobacco (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 0.1 )
- Kilograms of Tobacco produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 30 )
- Area of Cultivated Turf (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 60 )
- Area of Cut Flowers (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 284 )
Other Vegetables
- Area of Asparagus (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 82 )
- Tonnes of Asparagus produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 451 )
- Area of Beetroot (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 1.5 )
- Tonnes of Beetroot produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 3.2 )
- Area of Broccoli (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 975 )
- Kilograms of Broccoli produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 3,715,024 )
- Area of Brussel Sprouts (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 5.3 )
- Kilograms of Brussel Sprouts produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 48,072 )
- Area of Cabbages (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 119 )
- Tonnes of Cabbages produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 3,819 )
- Area of Chinese Cabbage (buckchoi and Wombak) (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 42 )
- Kilograms of Chinese Cabbage (buckchoi and Wombak) produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,520,943 )
- Area of Capsicum Chillies and Peppers (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 145 )
- Kilograms of Capsicum Chillies and Peppers produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 2,475,762 )
- Area of Carrots (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 107 )
- Tonnes of Carrots produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 2,973 )
- Area of Cauliflower (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 218 )
- Tonnes of Cauliflower produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 5,523 )
- Area of Celery (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 109 )
- Kilograms of Celery produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 7,756,960 )
- Area of Cucumbers (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 18 )
- Kilograms of Cucumbers produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 134,858 )
- Area of Leeks (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 56 )
- Kilograms of Leeks produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 265,502 )
- Area of Lettuce (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 339 )
- Tonnes of Lettuce produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 11,470 )
- Area of Marrows and Squashes (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 6.5 )
- Kilograms of Marrows and Squashes produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 24,667 )
- Area of Zucchini (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 74 )
- Kilograms of Zucchini produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 518,931 )
- Area of Rock Melons (including Cantaloupe) (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 173 )
- Tonnes of Rock Melons (including Cantaloupe) produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 5,244 )
- Area of Water Melons (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 872 )
- Tonnes of Water Melons produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 11,869 )
- Area of Melons (not elsewhere classified) (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 21 )
- Tonnes of Melons (not elsewhere classified) produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 42 )
- Area of Mushrooms (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 2.2 )
- Kilograms of Mushrooms produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 619,705 )
- Area of Spring Onions (including Shallots) (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 0.5 )
- Kilograms of Spring Onions (including Shallots) produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 4,170 )
- Area of White and Brown Onions (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 130 )
- Tonnes of White and Brown Onions produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 5,180 )
- Area of Parsley (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 11 )
- Kilograms of Parsley produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 214,204 )
- Area of Green Peas (for processing) (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 0.5 )
- Area of Green Peas (for fresh market) (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 7.2 )
- Kilograms of Green Peas (for fresh market) produced (pod weight) (Value in 1996/1997 = 3,559 )
- Area of Snow Peas (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 27 )
- Kilograms of Snow Peas produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 61,279 )
- Area of Pumpkins, Triambles, Trombones etc. (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 189 )
- Tonnes of Pumpkins, Triambles, Trombones etc. produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,803 )
- Area of Sweet Corn (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 197 )
- Tonnes of Sweet Corn produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 2,870 )
- Area of Sweet Potatoes (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 2.0 )
- Area of Other Vegetables (not elsewhere classified) (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 36 )
Pastures
- Area of Lucerne (pure), year ending 31 March (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 14,215 )
- Area of Pasture Legumes (excluding Lucerne), year ending 31 March (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 2,041 )
- Area of Sown Grasses, year ending 31 March (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 181,569 )
- Area of Native or Naturalised Pasture, year ending 31 March (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 779,165 )
- Area of Mixed Perennial Grasses and Legumes, year ending 31 March (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 49,994 )
- Area of Mixed Annual Grasses and Legumes, year ending 31 March (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 42,725 )
- Area of Sown Pasture (excluding Pure Lucerne) , year ending 31 March (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,065,747 )
- Area of Pastures (excluding Lucerne) cut for hay (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 6,043 )
- Tonnes of Pasture (excluding Lucerne) cut for hay (Value in 1996/1997 = 21,707 )
Pears
- Number of Pear Trees (excluding Nashi) under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 4,235 )
- Number of Pear Trees (excluding Nashi) 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 27,897 )
- Kilograms of Pears (excluding Nashi) Total produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,676,471 )
- Number of Nashi Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 3,268 )
- Number of Nashi Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 2,180 )
- Kilograms of Nashi produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 57,780 )
Pigs
Plantation Fruit
- Area of Kiwi Fruit / Zespri bearing (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 10 )
- Kilograms of Kiwi Fruit /zespri produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 36,150 )
Potatoes
- Area of Potatoes (ha) (Value in 1996/1997 = 616 )
- Tonnes of Potatoes produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 11,823 )
Poultry
- Number of Meat Chickens grown on contract at 31 March (Value in 1996/1997 = 278,000 )
- Number of Meat Chickens grown on own account at 31 March (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,800 )
- Eggs (dozens) produced for human consumption (Value in 1996/1997 = 14,931,899 )
Sales of Livestock
- Number of Sales of Sheep (Value in 1996/1997 = 266,147 )
- Number of Sales of Lambs (Value in 1996/1997 = 128,476 )
- Number of Sales of Cattle and Calves (except Bulls sold for breeding) (Value in 1996/1997 = 741,303 )
- Number of Sales of Pigs (Value in 1996/1997 = 546,438 )
- Number of Sales of Other Livestock not elsewhere considered (short form) (Value in 1996/1997 = 2,517 )
Sheep and Lambs
- Number of Breeding Ewes 1 year and over at 31 March (Value in 1996/1997 = 518,004 )
- Number of Lambs and Hoggets under 1 year at 31 March (Value in 1996/1997 = 304,445 )
- Number of Sheep and Lambs at 31 March (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,540,883 )
- Number of All Other Sheep (excluding Breeding Ewes) (Value in 1996/1997 = 718,434 )
Stone Fruit
- Number of Apricot Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 17,194 )
- Number of Apricot Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 20,784 )
- Kilograms of Apricots produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 147,624 )
- Number of Avocado Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 20,360 )
- Number of Avocado Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 19,650 )
- Kilograms of Avocados produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 613,415 )
- Number of Cherry Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 4,896 )
- Number of Cherry Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 114 )
- Kilograms of Cherries produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 162 )
- Number of Mango Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 3 )
- Number of Mango Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 3 )
- Kilograms of Mangoes produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 79 )
- Number of Nectarine Trees 6 years and under (Value in 1996/1997 = 105,899 )
- Number of Nectarine Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 116,642 )
- Kilograms of Nectarines produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 954,467 )
- Number of Peach Trees under 6 years (Value in 1996/1997 = 155,347 )
- Number of Peach Trees 6 years and over (Value in 1996/1997 = 110,426 )
- Kilograms of Peaches produced (Value in 1996/1997 = 1,243,051 )
Further information
Please Note: Not all the selected data items are available for every year or for every statistical region.
The figures reported here are a subset of the Agricultural Census data from 1982/1983 to 1996/1997 published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, AgStats). The data have been analysed by Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia to report them using a consistent geographic base. Further information about the data is available through the Australian Spatial Data Directory.
The subset includes 436 data items for plant production and 40 data items for livestock which were commonly available in the AgStats database over the 15 year period and each year for respondents having an Estimated Value of Agricultural Operations (EVAO) above the cut-off of $22,500.
The data have been concorded by bringing data collected using different geographies to a consistent geographic base, being Version 2.6 Statistical Local Area (SLA) boundaries (ABS, 1996) and using the non-agricultural lands mask from the National Land and Water Resources Audit's National Landuse Map (1996/1997).
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