INCREASED investment, a strong livestock industry and exceptional seasonal conditions are helping put the nation’s agribusiness sector in its “rightful place”, according to Agribusiness Australia chief executive officer Tim Burrow.
“It’s been a strong industry sector for decades, centuries, but often been looked down upon as the poor cousin,” he said. “It’s really good to see the community generally positive towards agribusiness and agriculture.
“Our country is generally in better health than it was 50 years ago. We’re growing more product – whether it be beef, milk, grain or honey, and the industry’s sustainable.”
Mr Burrow said the amount of foreign investment coming into the Australian agribusiness sector was a major plus, helping create huge opportunities for new export markets.
He said investment in farm infrastructure was particularly important as it would provide Australia with a competitive edge.
But, he warned against complacency in what was a boom time for the sector.
“Anyone who thinks they can rest on the laurels of the basic right to sell food, being clean and sustainable is not enough,” he said.
"You’ve got to have a brand, you’ve got to add value, you’ve got to sell it.
“Other people produce clean and green food, too.”
Mr Burrow said trade access was a continuing focus for the agribusiness sector, as was highlighting the financial and social value of agriculture in Australia.
Looking across the ag sectors, graingrowers encountered a 13.4 per cent price drop in 2016, according to the BankSA Rural Price Index, while prices of horticulture products increased by 13.6pc and livestock and livestock product prices rose 5.2pc.
BankSA chief executive Nick Reade said it had been a solid 12 months for most SA farmers.
“Despite lower world prices for some agricultural commodities, business conditions for SA farmers during the past 12 months have been reasonably good,” he said.
“The relatively high rainfall in SA this year has certainly been a mixed blessing for farmers, depending on the type of farm product they produce, but overall the level of rain has been positive, particularly for cattle farmers and grapegrowers.
“Product prices were up for many farmers this year, while for many others it was a case of higher production but lower prices, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing so long as output rises enough to offset the effects of price falls.”
