ABARES Launches Annual Farm Survey to Address Industry Challenges

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) is initiating its annual farm survey program, aimed at collecting valuable data to tackle ongoing challenges such as drought and trade disruptions.

Comprehensive Data Gathering Across Australia

This year’s initiative will gather insights from farms nationwide, helping to create an accurate picture of agricultural performance across the country.

ABARES officers will conduct face-to-face interviews with approximately 1,900 pre-selected farmers from June to December. These interviews are designed to capture essential information to further understand the farming landscape in Australia.

The Importance of Participation

ABARES Executive Director Dr. Jared Greenville emphasized the significance of these surveys, stating, “The surveys form a crucial evidence base that industries and governments rely on for policy-making and responding to emerging challenges.”

Dr. Greenville added, “The interviews encompass inquiries about farm structure, land use, production, costs, and other economic factors that influence farm businesses. The continued success of this survey hinges on the cooperation of those farmers selected to represent their industry.”

A Legacy of Agricultural Surveys

ABARES has a long-standing tradition of conducting agricultural industry surveys, spanning over 70 years. Among these, two primary surveys have consistently been conducted since the 1970s.

One of the key surveys is the Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey, established in 1977. This extensive survey of broadacre farms offers the longest time series of data, comprising 46 years of information, with a sample size of about 1,600 farms.

Source: ABARES. For inquiries, farmers can reach out to the ABARES Survey Collection team at
1800 026 308 or via email at
surveysabares@agriculture.gov.au.