Australia is not only the country of Kangaroo and Coal, but also the global leader in exporting barley and the birthplace of the world's largest farms. And that's not all.
In Australia, agriculture is very well developed, because at least it is a hot and deserted country in which very few arable land, but it does not prevent it from being one of the leaders in the production and export of grain. Due to small areas suitable for crops, in Australia, most often engaged in animal husbandry and fishing. Pastures occupy almost half of the country - it is six times more than the territory of Ukraine.
Here are some facts that will tell about what kind of conditions are working Australian farmers and in what condition there is a country agriculture, which occupies a whole continent.
Deserts and semi-deserts occupy 63% of the country's territory. The North of Australia is one of the hottest places on the planet, the average annual temperature there can reach 30 ° C. For comparison, the hottest place on the planet - Dallolol with an average annual temperature of 34 ° C.
Territory with temperate climates are located in the south-east of the country: in the states of Victoria, the new South Wales and on the island of Tasmania. All other lands can be attributed to arid regions, in which except cattle farms are also irrigated land with. In addition, El Niño affects Australia, causing drought and reducing yield.
Although the surface of Australia is predominantly flat and the lowest compared to other continents, but in the West, in the center and the eastern coast, many mountains. Most of the territories with a high level of precipitation are occupied by forests and only occasionally arable land. The crop production is mainly engaged in the south-east and southwest of the country, and animal husbandry - in arid regions. And since in Australia more desert zones, animal husbandry is a priority industry of agriculture.
There is no volcanic in Australia, there is no earthquakes here. The relief remains unchanged more than forty million years.
The integral indicator of the soil fertility is the content of humus. The most fertile in Ukraine are Kharkov and Poltava region, and in Australia, the same fertile lands are located in the states of Victoria, the new South Wales, as well as in the south-west of the mainland.
At the same time, each state has its own specialization depending on climate. In Victoria they are engaged in crop production, in Tasmania - fisheries, the new South Wales is a versatile developed state, and the rest can be called livestock. The map of fertile soil is very similar to the rainmark card - this means that the efficiency of crop production depends mainly from the weather.
The greatest number of large farms focuses in the north and west of the mainland. In these regions, the average farm size reaches 7-11 thousand hectares. At the same time, the average farm for Australian standards is an economy of 3,000 hectares. In the ranking of the biggest farms of the world 7 out of 10 will be Australian. But the first place is the Chinese China Modern Diary with 4 million hectares of land.
In each animal husbandry, there is also a big farm, and sometimes even a few. For example, the largest Australian livestock farm, Anna Creek Station, is located in South Australia. Her land bank - 2.42 million hectares. This is more than the area of \u200b\u200bIsrael. The second largest farm in the country is in the same state - it is Clifton Hills, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is 1.7 million hectares.
Although larger farms are located in the north and west, but they are much smaller than in other states, which means that the production in these regions is less. As for the rest of the livestock regions, Queensland is the center of CRS meat production, and South Australia is the most profitable arid region.
The most effective agricultural staff - Victoria, follows Tasmania, closes the top three leaders a new South Wales. Victoria is a region not only with the highest level of production of animal husbandry, and the most profitable. It can also be called a dairy state.
Australian agribusiness is focused mainly on cattle meat, milk, sheep wool and lamb.
Sheep in Australia is five times more than people - 100 million heads. She, together with China and New Zealand, controls the global market of sheepskin: These three countries produce about 50% of all sheep wool in the world. At the same time, it is Australia that is a global leader in the production and export of sheep wool. It also produces the best Mouton in the world - this is the most expensive sheepskin. In Australia, it is about half of the whole mutona in the world.
Now the industry is experiencing a major recession. Over the past 25 years, sheep's population decreased by 53%, and the number of farms by 23%. If the dynamics persist, China will become the main manufacturer in the near future. The reason for the decline was the cost of wool - it is too expensive. Artificial textiles are almost no less inferior to natural wool and it is much cheaper. Therefore, Australians began to breed the sheep breed Australian Merinos, from which you can get both wool and a lot of meat.
7. Australia - Barley Export Leader
In 2016, she exported 6.7 million tons of barley, while Ukraine, which ranks third in the world exports, sold 5 million tons abroad.
Another important culture for the mainland Wheat. The share of areas for the cultivation of wheat is one of the largest in the world. This allowed Australia in 2016 to produce 28.3 million tons of wheat, 70% of which went to export.
Also, local farmers grow a large number of fruits, nuts and vegetables. These are mainly oranges, apples, bananas, chestnuts, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes. The state of Queensland and the Northern Territory grows mangoes and pineapples. Buy all this mainly Japan, USA and China.
Australia is one of the few countries that are engaged in the cultivation of a opium poppy for pharmaceutical purposes. Production on the island of Tasmania is under the strictest control of the state.
Now Australian agriculture in crisis: Over the past 10 years, the farmland area has decreased by 41 thousand hectares, and the number of agricultural enterprises - by 16 thousand hectares. Serious problems and in vegetable growing. The reason for the crisis was unemployment and a large gap between income in cities and rural areas. More and more youth leaves in the city and agribusiness are mainly engaged in those who are this family business. A little reminds. Nevertheless, this is one of the most important countries for the world agrobe, and Ukraine is its direct competitor in the market of Southeast Asia.
In terms of socio-economic development, Australia refers to economically highly developed countries of the world, but its most predominantly raw material and agricultural specialist. To this direction of the economy contributed to the presence of huge land spaces and the richest raw material base with very weak security by labor resources.
Magogue is important mining industry Aust-Ralia, scattered in various regions of the country. In terms of mining and exporting of stone coal, iron, manganese ores, bauxite, uranium, gold, diamonds, sapphire, opal and many other minerals Australia is one of the world leaders.
Processing industry Concentrated in the south-east of Australia and is focused mainly on the domestic market and does not always satisfy the needs of the country.
On the basis of its own resources of coking coal and ores of black me-talls received the development of black metallurgy (Newcastle, Melbourne, Wollongong), and on the basis of ores of non-ferrous metals - color, among the industries of which highlights the production of aluminum (Bell-Bay, Quina and Jelong), Copper (Mount Isa), Nickel (Calgohley), Lead and Zinc (port -Piri).
Australian development is becoming more and more mechanical engineeringproducing cars, ships, agricultural machinery and equipment, electrical engineering and electronics. The main engineering centers of the country are Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Australia has highly developed chemical industryAmong the branches of which the production of mineral feuds (Brisbane and Quina), soda, acids and alkalis (Newcastle), petrochemical products (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Clyde) and polymers are distinguished.
Different industries are traditionally developed. food Industry, among which the export value is meat, sugar, flour and butterfly. Material from site.
High level of development and a huge role in the structure australia's farms Agricultural production is distinguished. With a general extensive focus, Australia agriculture is distinguished by a high level of mechanization and agrotechnology. The overwhelming part of the shipping products gives animal husbandry, in which meat-wool sheep and meat cattle breeding is clearly divided. The overall head of sheep ranges from 120 to 180 million heads, which is associated with droughts and the global market conjuncture. Despite the fact that in the next threshers, Australia lost the championship in the Lady of Sheep Kitai, she confidently retained the leading position in the world for the production and export of lamb and wool. In some years, Australia gives 1/3 world wool collection. In crop production in the row in the sowing and the value, wheat, barley, corn (southeast and south-west of the country), sugar cane and pineapples (Eastern Coast), Cotton (West and East), and Horticulture and Vinogradar (southeast). In the north of the country (Arnhedrand Peninsula), the unique industry was developed - crocodile production.
From 1795, when the first white settlers moved into partial self-sustaining the main foods, and before the end of World War II, agriculture was agriculture, and especially sheep fell, was the foundation of the Australian economy. Although, as the industry develops, agriculture has lost their leading position, this industry is still at the heart of the country's welfare.
The expression "Australia riding riding on the sheep" justified itself throughout the hundred years - from 1820 to about 1920. Using several Spanish merino from the cape from the cape, as well as others brought a little later from England, John MacArthur and his wife Elizabeth by Careful crossing brought a new breed - Australian Merinos.
The mechanization of the English textile industry led to the demand for thin-fledged wool, which Australia was able to satisfy from 1820. In 1850, there were 17.5 million sheep in this country. After 1860, the money received from the gold mines was spent on the expansion of sheep. In 1894, sheep's population exceeded 100 million. In 1970, sheep's population in Australia reached a record high level - 180 million. However, as a result of a sharp drop in wool prices in the world market in 1997, it decreased to 123 million.
In 1974, a proposal was made to introduce the lower level of the auction prices for wool, and it was successfully operating up to 1991, when it began selling a huge stock of accumulated wool on the "free market". As a result, the price of wool fell sharply. By that time, more than 4.6 million bales of unprecedented wool accumulated in the country. Sales of these reserves, as well as newly produced wool has become a problem for modern Australia. In 1996, 730 thousand tons of wool were produced, but the prices for it dropped by 57% compared with the level of 1988-1989.
If the Australian wool had a sales market from the beginning of the 19th century, there was no such market for meat for many years. Therefore, old and unnecessary sheep scored on skins and fat. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the invention of meat freezing technologies in 1879 made it possible to establish exports of Australian lamb to England. Successful development of trade stimulated the removal of new breeds of sheep, which gave meat better quality compared to merino, but somewhat worse wool. In 1996-1997, 583 thousand taranins were produced in Australia, of which 205 thousand went to export. Over the past decade, exports of live sheep have been established, which were scored after delivery to the country of destination. Mostly, this product acquired Muslim countries of the Middle East. In total in 1996-1997, more than 5.2 million sheep were exported from Australia.
Most of the sheep livestock is timed to the three concentric zones of the mainland. In the area of \u200b\u200bherld sheep (area of \u200b\u200b3.9 million square meters. Km, the average annual precipitation of less than 500 mm with irregular mode of their fallout) is concentrated less than 1/4 of the total sheep's livestock, but it is basically there is mainly bred by Australian Merinos. This zone is extended by a wide arc through the southeast part, the central part and on the north to the central; It forms a belt along the central part of the coast, and then turns deep into the mainland to the plain nullarbor. The average economy in this zone is 20 000 hectares, and the specific capacity of pastures is small: one sheep is 3.2 hectares. The zone of sheep and grain farms specializing in wheat growing, about 534 thousand square meters. The km is located on the outer side of the pasture zone and concentrates 2/5 of the total sheep livestock. Here annually regularly drops up to 750 mm precipitation. Wheat cultivation and sheep fell about the same value. Sheep are represented by hybrid rocks that give a lot of meat and wool. The average economy size is 1000 hectares, and the specific capacity of pastures is one sheep at 0.7 hectares. In the outer area where many precipitation drops - more than 750 mm per year, concentrated over 1/3 of the sheep livestock. Along with the sheep, a cattle (on meat) is bred and grow wheat. The average economy size is 485 hectares, and the specific capacity of pastures is 3.2 sheep per 1 hectare.
Since there are no major predators in Australia, except for Dingo, the breeding of cattle in the colonial period reached significant scale, especially in dry and remote areas where it was aged sheep-flower. However, the development of this industry was constrained due to the inability to establish exports of products and the limited domestic market. "Golden Fever" in Victoria in the 1850s attracted thousands of people. There was a significant market for the sale of beef, which marked the beginning of the development of commercial meat animal husbandry. However, only after 1890, when the Australian beef ice cream began to flow into the English market, the further development of this industry was guaranteed. By that time, the worst part of the mainland was mastered, which is now used for grazing cattle, and the total livestock has reached about 10 million.
In 1997, there were 23.5 million heads of cattle of meat breeds. The production of beef and veal amounted to 1.8 million tons, of which 42% were sent for export. The discovery of the Japanese market was of great importance for the extension of exports of Australian beef. As in the sheep, during these years, exports of live cattle - more than 860 thousand heads in 1996-1997 increased significantly.
Introduction of exotic tropical leguminous plants opens up prospects for improving the quality of pastures. Belt with an average annual precipitation of 500-750 mm, crossing Queensland, a new South Wales and North, is best suited for breeding cattle. Pasture capacity here ranges from 1.2 to 12 hectares on the head of livestock, and the size of the farms is from 400 to 10,500 hectares, most of them belong to private owners. In this belt, improved pastures are common, often with the system of irrigation, sheep and cereal economy are combined with cattle breeding. In a weta coastal zone, pasture capacity is slightly lower - from 1.6 to 12 hectares on the head of the cattle and the size of farms range from 400 to 14,600 hectares. In these two zones, most of the livestock of cattle of meat breeds is concentrated, and forage production has been established on a large scale. Most of the meat livestock livestock is refined on non-stepped pastures.
The most common breeds are Hereford, Shorthorn and Angus. Since 1959, it was possible to achieve significant selection success due to the introduction of Zebu in the herd of Northern Australia, and this influence is now noticeable in many areas where cattle is grown on meat. The Texas Breed of Santa Gertruradis turned out to be very successful, and the Dronmaster's similar breed was distributed in the north.
Dairy animal husbandry.
Australia's dairy farms are concentrated on the southeastern coast, where many precipitation falls out or irrigation; The most important areas of development of this industry are the southern coast of Victoria, the Valley of Murree near Echuk and the border area between Queensland and the new South Wales. In 1997, there were 3.1 million milk cattle heads. The number of this livestock has decreased since the early 1960s, but thanks to the improvement of its composition and quality of pastures, as well as improving the methods of farming, the volume of dairy products has not decreased. In the 1990s, the population of dairy livestock increased again. This trend is partly due to the successful adaptation of the industry to the consignment in the world market after in the mid-1980s, the decision was made that the prices for dairy products must be complied with the world. At present, approximately half of the Australian dairy products are exported (mainly in the countries of the Middle East and Asia) in the form of cheese, dry milk, oil and casein. In the past, the production of dairy products depended on state subsidies, now this industry is becoming more independent.
Agriculture in Australia
How does Australian farmers in hard economic and weather conditions not only survive, but also develop agricultural production?
Australia is the only country of the world that occupies the territory of the whole mainland, which is about 5% of the surface of the land sushi. It is the sixth in the area of \u200b\u200bthe state in the world after Russia, Canada, China, the USA and Brazil, the length of the west to the east of almost 4,000 kilometers, and from north to south - 3860 km.
According to statistics, Australia is the most dry populated continent in the world (only in Antarctica there is even less precipitation), there are no discount here, which sometimes lasts for several years. Almost three quarters of the country are deserts and semi-deserts. In the southwestern part of the country, the climate is Mediterranean. In most of the southeast of the country (including Tasmania), the climate is moderate.
Agriculture
In Australia, about 60% of the agricultural products produced is exported, including 75% grain, 97% of wool, 80% sugar, 30-40% of beef and lamb - EXPORTY FROM CRS is about 662 million Australia. Dolls, from the export of lamb - 323 million AUTR. dollars (total income from meat exports is about 996.5 million AUTR. DOLL.) In agriculture, only about 10% of the country's area is used, of which under arable land - no more than a third, everything else is pastures.The leading direction of crop production, both at the cost of produced products and in the sowing area, is the grain farming. The main grain culture of Australia - Wheat. It accounts for 18-19% of agriculture products, 35-40% of crop production, more than 60% of lands.
The cultivation of grain crops is limited mainly to the eastern and southeast peripheral areas of Australia, a lesser extent developed in the south-west of Western Australia and in Tasmania. The main area of \u200b\u200bwheat crops, the so-called "wheat belt", stretches by a band of 70-300 km wide from the city of Brisbane in Queensland to the south of Australia. After 1950, when 8 million hectares were sown, there was a significant increase in the sowing areas up to a record level - 22 million hectares in 1984. Subsequently, adverse climatic and economic factors led to a reduction in sown areas up to 17 million hectares in 1991, but then again began to expand - up to 20 million hectares in 2011.
One of the main problems faced by Australian farmers along with droughts, erosion and low soil fertility, is a tense situation with fresh water in many parts of Australia.
The growing needs of the population and industry of the state of South Australia with great difficulty could be satisfied with traditional sources (Murray River, small rivers flowing from the hills of Adelaide, rainwater, collected by the population, and artesian waters).
In this regard, in Australia there are official restrictions on the use of water. They vary greatly depending on the region, and usually consist of several levels (Sydney city - three levels, Queensland - 7 levels), on each of which there are prohibitions. The weakening of the prohibitions (raising the flow of water) is usually associated with the beginning of the rainy season (falls on the winter, in the South Hemisphere - June, July, August), and filling the reservoirs. An example of such prohibitions are: ban Wash the car, fill basins, water lawns and any surface.
Features of the grain market
The annual production of grain in Australia is 35 million tons depending on the season, grain production - 9 billion Australia. Dolls, of which 4 billion products are exported. On the grain market in Australia, the associations of grain producers in the regions and their association are actively working. Exports of Australian wheat used only the Australian Wheat Office, created immediately after World War II.Management has its own granaries, grain terminals in ports. It buys wheat from farmers in a guaranteed price and then independently carry out its sales in the externally market. The accumulations formed during the high conjuncture years go to cover losses arising from falling price in the global market compared to the guaranteed. Later, the Government of Australia decided to expand the market and improve the competitive environment. The result of the actions of the government was that three large grain operators are dominated in the domestic market of Australia - Grain Corp, Viterra and CBH Group. Their property is most of 20 grain export ports, as well as the country's grain elevators.
On the Grain Market of Australia, a transparent system of relations in the "Manufacturer Consumer" chain has been built with clear rules of the game: only $ 10 from tons of grain are obtained for their services, about $ 20 goes to transport the grain, the price of storage - 30-40 dollars per ton.
For comparison: Russian grain producers are produced by 40% less revenue for their products with a comparable contribution to the chain of the cost of bread. For this year, at the price of Australian grain, $ 260 per ton, Russian agrades have about $ 117 tons less than Australian farmers.
Agrarian science
In Australia, a fundamentally different development of agrarian science, based on the principles of public and private partnerships, is carried out. The purpose of agrarian science in Australia is to increase the environmental and economic efficiency and profitability of agricultural production. A unique example of the widespread development of public and private advisory services and the effective development of innovation in the GRDC APC (Grain Research Corporation). It was created 20 years ago by farmer associations and the state for scientific and practical work on the study and development of agricultural culctures on request and the needs of farmers.Partners of the corporation there are five government agencies, eight universities, the National Research Center. In the laboratories of the Corporation, about 25 types of agricultural varieties are investigated, which bring about 7 billion Australian dollars annually. The Government of Australia approved a special tax from farmers. Every year, the main body of Australia's grain industry - producers of grain of Australia (GPA) - its size is established: as a rule, it is not more than 0.5% of the gross value of the grain farmers.
At the same time, the state allocates 30% to the collection, the amount of the government's contribution is determined annually and is based on a three-year-old moving average gross value of the production of 25-taxed cultures.
The amount is very significant, so, last year, it amounted to 160 million Australia. dollars - exactly 800 GRDS research projects are financed annually. The subjects of these studies determine the farmers themselves, based on the needs of agricultural production.
Direct sowing in Australia
According to Wantfa (Association of Farmers - Supporters of Zero Treatment of Western Australia), today in Australia direct sowing (no-till) applies on the territory of 16 million hectares. Progress in the development of direct sowing on the continent began twelve years ago, when the number of farmers applying this technology began to grow rapidly. Reducing the level of impact on the soil by applying zero treatment and methods of saving agriculture led to a significant increase in soil fertility, stability and improvement of environmental conditions in the Australia's agricultural belt (improving the yield of grain crops by 10-15% in Australia - as a result of the reduction in soil sealing).In Australia, most farmers use accurate seeders with narrow pointed coulters, although some farmers use disk coulters that have gained particular popularity in recent years. The peculiarities of their use are the use of 50 kg of seeds per 1 hectare when cropping by 2-3 cm. The low speed of the seeder is 5-7 km / h (um - seeds are widely used).
In addition, among farmers - supporters of direct sowing are becoming increasingly popular.
Australian farmers are actively used in the production of agricultural cells. Satellite monitoring data, in addition, the practice of monitoring of crops through aerophotomonitoring using digital cameras and spectrometers installed on an unmanned aerial vehicle are distributed. As a result, the state of crops, soils, the necessary activities are carried out in a timely manner, the necessary events are carried out, according to such monitoring, the presence of weeds in the fields and use these data to prepare applications for making pesticides.
On thin soils, the motion control system is widely used - Controlled Traffic Farming.
In Australia, an automated accurate spraying of crops of WeedSeeker systems is widely used, the appearance of which farmers are called a revolution in crop production. 
The automated system of accurate spraying WeedSeeker is mounted onto the sprayer and provides for the operational differentiated introduction of the SZR, which is carried out at the expense of individual nozzles and optical elements recognizing the presence of weed vegetation on the field.
Thanks to the address application system, it is possible to produce several operations before sowing, thereby preventing the drying of the upper layer of the soil. At the same time Weedseeker sprinkles only weeds, not polluting the soil. This system saves time, maintains labor, reduces the amount of herbicides used, reduces harmful effect on the environment. Weedseeker works no matter of day. Thanks to the system of salvo administration, spraying is possible even with strong wind. According to many farmers, one Weedseeker system pays for itself in less than a year.
Agricultural machinery of Australia
Australian agricultural machinery in Australia is poorly developed (agricultural machinery gives only 3% of the cost of all engineering products), there are no more than 200 enterprises for the whole country, of which are large only two, but they also give many interesting ideas and developments. In the industry employs about 11 thousand workers. Complex agricultural machines - combines, tractors, etc. - is a bit available. A significant number of combines, caterpillar tractors and especially production instruments for processing technical and vegetable crops are covered from the USA, Canada and England. Australia's uncomplicated agricultural machines exports to New Zealand and the Pacific Countries. The main centers of agricultural engineering are located in the main agricultural areas of the country: in Victoria (Melbourne, Gylong et al.), New South Wales (Sydney, Batters), South Australia (Adelaide), Western Australia (Perth) and Tasmania (Hobart).The features of Australia agriculture is that a huge number of land arrays are used here per occupied, and there is also an opportunity for an extramilated year-round content of livestock. With its development, there were no feudal remnants here, there was an advanced and relatively stable and fairly capacious English market. Australia's agriculture is included in the group of world leaders in labor productivity, but at the same time, indices of agricultural products per unit area are relatively small, as the land is used extensively here.
Such a feature indicates how different Australia agriculture differs from Japan's agriculture and however, this feature also testifies to how the fifth continent has the enormous potential. Even the most modest calculations show that only a simple increase in the processed lands at the expense of land that are not yet involved in the agricultural turn, makes it possible to provide food 60 million people. And all this without damage to the environment.
Australia's agriculture delivers to export 60% of all products manufactured, including 97% of wool, 80% sugar, 75% grain, 30-40% beef and lamb. Previously, the main part of the products was exported to the UK, but recently, Japan and other countries of Eastern and Southeast Asia became the main exporters. Australia's agricultural development strategy continues to remain in the fact that its leading industry is sheep. The number of herd of sheep in the country ranks first in the world and reached in some years to 180 million heads. It then declined due to falling in the global market demand for wool and for many years is about 130 million heads.
Sheep is quite picky animals, no moderate climate with high humidity, nor tropical heat, are not suitable for them. The main part of the sheep (about 45%) grasts in areas in the west of the zone where intensive sheep is carried out. In these zones falls per year from 350 to 500 mm of precipitation. Here on farms, except for sheep, also grow wheat and bind the effect of climate on agriculture Australia led to the fact that the intensive sheep's zones are usually narrowly specialized, they are small fatal-type farms. These are areas stretching by a narrow strip along the western slopes of East Australian mountains, as well as in the eastern part and in the extreme south-western part of the mainland. These region accounts for about a third of the total herd of sheep.
Among the crop growing agriculture Australia is represented by grain farming. The main grain crop here is wheat. It is 35-40% of the volume of crop production and 18-19% of the total volume of agricultural products. The average wheat yield is small and is only 13-14 centners with hectares. And the climate has a rather strong effect on the yield. However, Australia for many years is in the leaders in the world exports of wheat, yielding in terms of US only and Canada. Sometimes in the struggle for the third place on the grain, France is ahead of it. The largest importers of the grain are Japan and China.
In addition to wheat, important cultures for export are barley, oats and sorghum. Moreover, barley in Australia is grown on the same areas as wheat. Here is a crop rotation scheme: wheat-barley pairs. Corn in Australia, in contrast to European countries and the United States is much grown, because for her local soils and climatic conditions are not suitable.