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).

Key Issues
• 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. • 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. • 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. • 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.