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The Cropping Industry directly employs over 80,000 people, with a further 40,000 people involved in mixed farming enterprises. Broadacre cropping generates in excess of $14.5 billion per annum, with wheat the principal commodity. A diverse range of career opportunities exist in agronomy, soil health, pest management, plant nutrition, water use efficiency, genetics and grain handling.
The Livestock Industry directly employs over 140,000 people, with a further 40,000 people involved in mixed farming enterprises. Products from livestock enterprises (beef, sheep, dairy, pig, poultry, deer and equine) are worth around $19 billion per annum. Opportunities exist for exciting careers in animal health, pasture management, nutrition and genetics to improve the productivity and sustainability of the livestock industry.
The Horticulture Industry is the third largest sector in agriculture and accounts for around 25% of employment opportunities in agriculture. The horticultural sector generates around $8.0 billion per annum. Horticulture occurs in all states and mainland territories and provides interesting and exciting careers in edible (fruit, vegetable, nuts) and non-edible (nursery products, extractive crops, cut flowers, turf) production systems. Issues such as soil acidity, irrigation-induced salinity and imports need to be addressed to maintain global trade opportunities and move Australia away from being a net importer of fruit and vegetables.
The Viticulture Industry has been producing international award winning wines since 1822, and can boast of having some of the oldest grapevines in the world. Over 28,000 people are directly employed in viticulture, with additional employment occurring in marketing, hospitality and tourism. Vineyards cover 170,000 hectares across all states and mainland territories. Commitment to research and development within the industry has built a global reputation for Australia as one of the most technologically advanced wine producing countries in the world.
The Forestry Industry currently employees over 83,000 people and is projected to create 16,000 new jobs by 2020. Forests cover 149 million hectares, or approximately 19% of Australia’s landmass. Hardwood and softwood plantations cover about 2 million hectares and produce over 18 million cubic metres of timber annually. Plantation and farm forestry are critical to regional economic development and for environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration, estimated at 81 million tonnes per annum.
The Fisheries Industry is currently the fifth most valuable rural industry. Over 9,000 people are directly employed in the industry, with about half of these jobs based in aquaculture. A diverse marine fisheries zone covering 11 million square kilometres represents the third largest fishing zone in the world. Marine and freshwater aquacultures are rapidly expanding sectors of the industry, with over 60 species now being farmed.