tailieunhanh - NFF Farm Facts: 2012

In the long-term perspective, success in achieving both consumer benefits and increasing competitiveness depends on the quality of basic research. In often highly specialised areas, research co-operation between scientists in different member states is of utmost importance to achieve and maintain a high level of quality. Within EU research activities, the transnational nature of research should hence be dealt with by combining complementary expertise in different countries, also leading to increased research productivity through economies of scale | National Farmers FEDERATION NFF Farm Facts 2012 Contents. Section One Farmers and Agriculture Agriculture in Australia Australian farmers Australian farms Australian agriculture Feeding Australia and the world Australian agriculture Exports Australian agriculture State by State Australian farmers Employers Australian farmers Environmentalists Australian farmers Animal carers Australian farmers Research development and technology Australian farmers Self reliant Section Two C ommodities Beef Cotton Dairy Dried Fruits Grains Rice Sheepmeat Sugar Wool 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 17 19 21 23 25 26 28 30 32 33 Introduction. The Australian Year of the Farmer 2012 is shaping up to be a positive year for Australian farmers. With improved seasonal conditions across much of the country favourable commodity prices and a forecast that the value of farm exports is expected to rise some six percent this is a good time to be an Australian farmer. And the story of Australian agriculture reflects this. The growth in the farm sector over the past 20 years has consistently outperformed other sectors and was a key reason Australia avoided a recession during the global financial crisis. Agriculture has an enormous uptake of new technology we have thousands of jobs available we contribute 32 billion in export income to the economy and we produce the clean healthy fresh food that families enjoy. The prospects for agriculture are huge with the need to feed clothe and house a booming world population. World population growth will continue to expand to over nine billion by 2050 driving demand for both quality and quantity of food and fibre as well as the availability of arable land and water. In just eight years time it is predicted that half of the world s population will be on Australia s northern doorstep. Four billion people across Asia enjoying economic growth of around 10 percent per year represent unparalleled opportunities for Australia s economy especially its dynamic farm sector. .