The agricultural industry in the region is diverse. Key sectors include beef, sheep, dairy, wool, seed, cropping, viticulture, aquaculture and horticulture.
| Area in hectares |
Upper South East |
Lower South East |
| Cereals for grain |
81,831.0 |
15,248.8 |
| Vegetables for human consumption |
2,264.7 |
1,470.8 |
| Orchard trees (including nuts) |
743.8 |
251.4 |
| All fruit (excluding grapes) |
743.8 |
252.5 |
| Non cereal broad acre crops |
52,054.4 |
10,701.7 |
| Wine grapes |
9,119 |
6,567 |
| Forestry Softwood |
108,00 hectares; |
Hardwood 42,00 hectares |
| Number |
Upper South East |
Lower South East |
| Sheep and lambs |
2,487 |
856,809 |
| Milk cattle (excluding house cows) |
7,704 |
54,619 |
| Meat cattle |
363,930 |
243,323 |
| Pigs |
8,500 |
17,104 |
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics; National Regional Profile, Upper South East, Lower South East Statistical Subdivisions released 28/07/08. Winegrape Utilisation and Pricing Survey 2007, Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of South Australia; Forestry Green Print 2008
Demand for employment in this sector in the region has dropped between the census periods 2001 to 2006 by 7.2%. This fall is likely to have continued in the period since then due to the effects of drought, the global financial crisis effect on markets, a glut in grapes, milk price reductions, timber product sales reductions, increased efficiencies through the use of technology, changes in land use, and a drop in private investment. This drop in employment levels is in line with national falls which have seen, on average, a 1.6% fall per annum in the sector over the five years to February 2008.
At a national level, forecasts for growth within the sector are predicted to be less than for other sectors. The largest growth is expected for grain, sheep and beef cattle farming followed by horticulture and fruit growing and services to agriculture. These projections do not take the current global economic crisis into account.
Key employment in this region in this sector is in agriculture, forestry and logging, fishing and associated support services.
This industry sector has over half its work force (52.3%) aged 45 years and over.
71% of the workforce is male.
79.3% of the workforce is in full time employment.
The majority of agricultural enterprises within the region have less than 20 employees.
Likely future workforce picture:
Growth in demand driven by the forest and (possibly) horticulture sectors.
Despite decreased demand from 2001 to 2006, 400 additional jobs across the region is a reasonable target for this sector in the next 5 years.
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