Farmers champions of the state economy, as value of agriculture grows to $18.5bn

A record-breaking grain harvest and strong commodity prices have contributed to South Australia’s agriculture sector growing to $18.5bn, according to a new report.

A record-breaking grain harvest and strong commodity prices have contributed to South Australia’s agriculture sector growing to $18.5bn, according to a new report.

The latest Primary Industries Scorecard 2022-23, published today, found the sector has grown by seven per cent to its highest level and accounts for 51 per cent of the state’s exports.

The positive 32-page economic report was despite ongoing international pressures, such as the war in Ukraine and a slow global recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.

Michael Day and his 13-month old son Billy on their property, Macaw Peake in Salter Springs, (The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette)

Grain farmers were the main contributors to the 2022-23 increase, after they last year reaped the most valuable crop on record worth $7.76bn – up 42 per cent.

Other sectors to experience growth were forestry, worth $1.46bn and up five per cent, and the seafood sector, worth $508m, also up by five per cent.

For the first time China was surpassed by Indonesia to become the largest export market for agriculture and food exports, led by a 92 per cent increase in wheat imports.

Overall, agriculture, food, wine and forestry exports increased by 19 per cent to $8.8bn, with grain exports worth $5.1bn alone.

Grain Producers SA chief executive officer Brad Perry said the scorecard reaffirmed the grain industry’s critical contribution to the economy and “the importance growers play in feeding the world”.

Brad Perry said the scorecard reaffirmed the grain industry’s critical contribution to the economy. Picture: Supplied

Primary Producers chairman professor Simon Maddocks said the scorecard also spoke to the seasonal and market variability producers and commodity sectors contend with each year.

Challenges described in the report included elevated regional transport costs and input costs, such as fodder and fertiliser, due to inflation.

Michael and his 13-month old son Billy on their property. (The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette)

“Notwithstanding many ongoing challenges for our sectors and the communities we serve, the scorecard again highlights the critical contribution our industries and regional SA make to the SA economy,” Mr Maddocks said.

Salter Springs farmer Michael Day remembered the 2022-23 grain harvest as being their “best on record”, but it was memorable in more ways than one.

“Billy (our son) was born on January 11, 2023, the night after we finished the harvest,” Mr Day said. “The wife was pretty nervous, but we worked for two days straight and the next night we were in hospital.”

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the record-breaking growth in agriculture revenue was a testament to the state’s hardworking primary producers and their families.

The scorecard detailed agriculture contributed $7.78bn to the Gross State Product and 78,000 people were employed in the sector, up from 71,000.