|21 June 2011| Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time) Farm
snapshot: average farmer 55 year old grazier The average
Australian farmer is aged 55, owns a business (and has managed
it for 23 years) and the main activity is grazing, according to
Land Management and Farming in Australia (cat. no 4627.0)
released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
publication provides a snapshot of our farmers and a variety of
farm management practices including cropping and pasture
management, fertiliser use and natural environment conservation
protection. Key findings in the publication include: - In
2009-10, approximately 52% of Australia’s total land area was
managed by agricultural businesses. - In 2009-10, approximately
60,000 agricultural businesses prepared land for crops or
horticulture covering 25.1 million hectares. - Grazing land
accounted for 88% of land managed by agricultural businesses.
Almost half (48%) of all agricultural businesses in Australia
were engaged in cropping activities and 17% were engag