Australian sugarcane farm businesses: financial performance, 2013-14

Overview \r\n In 2014 ABARES was commissioned by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) and Sugar Research Australia (SRA) to conduct a survey of Australian sugarcane growing farm businesses. The survey conducted in early 2015 collected financial, physical and management information from sugarcane growers that had more than 5 hectares planted to sugarcane and with an estimated value of agricultural operations of $30 000 or more. \r\n\r\n Key Issues \r\n• Farm cash income, defined as total farm cash receipts less total farm cash costs, averaged $89 700 for sugarcane farm businesses in 2013-14. Farm cash income ranged from an average of just $14 900 for farm businesses with less than 50 hectares planted to sugar cane to an average of $384 200 for those with greater than 250 hectares of sugar cane. \r\n• In 2013-14 average farm cash income was highest in Far North Queensland, averaging $120 300 a farm, and lowest in New South Wales, where a higher proportion of smaller farms are located, averaging $38 100 a farm. \r\n• Average farm cash income is estimated to have declined from $89 700 in 2013-14 to $70 000 in 2014-15, as a result of lower sugar prices and increases in farm cash costs. \r\n• In 2014-15, farm cash incomes declined more in southern Queensland regions because of dry seasonal conditions and in the area around Cairns as a result of Cyclone Ita in 2014. In contrast, farm cash incomes are estimated to have increased in New South Wales and the Burdekin region as a result of increased sugarcane production. \r\n

概述
2014年，澳大利亚农业与资源经济科学局（ABARES）受昆士兰州农业与渔业部（Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, QDAF）与澳大利亚蔗糖研究协会（Sugar Research Australia, SRA）委托，开展针对澳大利亚甘蔗种植农场的调研。本次调研于2015年初开展，面向种植面积超过5公顷、农业经营估算产值不低于30000澳元的甘蔗种植户，收集其财务、生产运营与经营管理相关信息。

核心议题
• 农场现金收入指农场现金总收入减去农场现金总支出。2013-2014财年，甘蔗种植农场的平均现金收入为89700澳元。收入规模随种植面积呈现明显梯度差异：种植面积不足50公顷的农场平均现金收入仅为14900澳元，而种植面积超过250公顷的农场平均现金收入可达384200澳元。
• 2013-2014财年，昆士兰州远北地区的农场平均现金收入最高，达120300澳元/农场；新南威尔士州因小型农场占比更高，平均现金收入最低，仅为38100澳元/农场。
• 受食糖价格下跌与农场现金支出上涨影响，预计2014-2015财年甘蔗种植农场的平均现金收入从2013-2014财年的89700澳元降至70000澳元。
• 2014-2015财年，昆士兰州南部地区因季节性干旱、凯恩斯周边区域因2014年飓风伊塔（Cyclone Ita）的影响，农场现金收入降幅更大。与之形成对比的是，新南威尔士州与伯德金（Burdekin）地区因甘蔗产量提升，预计农场现金收入实现增长。