Australian beef: Financial performance of beef cattle producing farms, 2012-13 to 2014-15

This report presents the detailed financial performance of beef cattle producing farms in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 and discusses incomes, investment, farm debt, costs of beef production in a historical context. It draws heavily on data from the ABARES annual Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey (AAGIS). The report was commissioned by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). \r\n\r\n Key Issues \r\n• Farm cash incomes of beef cattle producing farms increased strongly in 2014-15 as a result of increased cattle prices and the highest beef cattle turn-off in 36 years. \r\n• In northern Australia, farm cash income for beef cattle producing farms is estimated to have increased from an average of $74 700 a farm in 2013-14 to an average of $148 000 a farm in 2014-15. This is around 50 per cent above the average for the previous 10 years, in real terms. \r\n• In southern Australia, farm cash income of specialist beef cattle producing farms, those farms mainly reliant on beef cattle production, is estimated to have increased from an average of $38 100 a farm in 2013-14 to $64 000 a farm in 2014-15. This is around 35 per cent above the average for the 10 years ending 2013-14. \r\n• Part of the increase in farm cash incomes has been achieved through reduced cattle herds as cattle turn-off increased in response to dry seasonal conditions and higher cattle prices. As a result, farm business profits remained below the average for the 10 years ending 2013-14. \r\n