Australian Sheep and Wool Industries

Australia is an important global food, fibre and beverage producer. In 2007 Australia produced the most greasy wool and lupins in the world and was ranked second for sheepmeat production, fourth for chickpeas, fifth for canary seed and triticale, sixth for beef, broad beans and nuts, seventh for sugar cane and lentils, eight for barley, oats and rapeseed and ninth for peas and horse meat production (FAO, 2009). Wool remains a significant enterprise for almost a third of Australia's commercial farms. Over 50% of Australia's 72,000 broadacre farms carry sheep and these farms occupy almost 40% of all agricultural land. In 2004-05, wool accounted for 6.7 % of the gross value of farm production, and exports of Australian wool were valued at $2.8 billion - Australia's fourth most important agricultural export behind beef, wheat and wine (ABARE, 2006). Traditionally, the state of the wool market has been the most important industry issue but the sheepmeat sector has become increasingly important. Australian primary industries are relatively unassisted. In 2005 the financial value of transfers from consumers and taxpayers as a result of government policy measures to support all Korean farmers was 63% of farmers' gross incomes, 56% for Japanese producers, 32% for European Union (EU) producers, 16% for US producers, while only 5% for Australian producers and 3% for NZ producers (OECD, 2006). These subsidy levels for sheepmeat producers in the EU were 53%, 13% in the US, 13% in Australia, while NZ sheepmeat producers received only 1% subsidy.