Australia's most comprehensive picture of farm performance is about to get another update, with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) commencing its annual survey of producers across the country.

Over the coming months, a team of 35 field officers will visit approximately 1,900 farms nationwide, gathering valuable insights into the economic health and performance of Australian agriculture.

Building a Better Picture of Australian Agriculture

The survey collects detailed information on farm businesses, including:

• Farm structure and land use
• Production levels
• Operating costs
• Financial performance
• Other key business metrics

While completing a survey may not be at the top of every producer's to-do list, the information collected plays an important role in shaping the future of Australian agriculture.

The data is used by governments, industry bodies and researchers to monitor the performance of farming sectors, identify emerging trends and inform policy decisions. It also helps guide responses to major challenges such as drought, biosecurity threats, changing seasonal conditions and international trade disruptions.

More Than Just Statistics

For more than 70 years, ABARES has been collecting farm business data, creating one of Australia's most valuable agricultural datasets.

Long-term data allows the industry to understand how farming businesses are evolving over time—from profitability and productivity to input costs and investment trends. It provides a factual foundation for decision-making rather than relying on anecdotal evidence alone.

For agribusiness employers, this information also provides valuable context around the economic conditions influencing recruitment, workforce planning and investment decisions.

Only a relatively small number of farms are selected each year to represent their region and industry.

If you're contacted by an ABARES field officer, participating in the survey helps ensure your industry is accurately represented. Every response contributes to a more complete understanding of Australian agriculture and helps improve the quality of information available to support future decision-making.

A Long-Running Benchmark

ABARES has been conducting agricultural surveys for more than seven decades.

These surveys have become the benchmark for measuring the performance and resilience of Australian farming businesses over time.

At The Lucas Group, we recognise the value of reliable industry data. Whether it's understanding employment trends, salary movements or the broader economic outlook for agriculture, quality information helps businesses make better people decisions. The ABARES annual survey continues to provide an important snapshot of the industry and of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

ABARES has been conducting agricultural surveys for more than seven decades.

These surveys have become the benchmark for measuring the performance and resilience of Australian farming businesses over time.

At The Lucas Group, we recognise the value of reliable industry data. Whether it's understanding employment trends, salary movements or the broader economic outlook for agriculture, quality information helps businesses make better people decisions. The ABARES annual survey continues to provide an important snapshot of the industry and of the challenges and opportunities ahead.