WA, SA have best farm incomes, but rain isn't enough in Vic, Qld, Tas

Despite emerging from drought to produce a monster national grain harvest and enjoy record-breaking livestock prices, broadacre producers in most states will actually bank lower average incomes than last financial year.

NSW has bounced back after three bad drought years, on track for a 650 per cent rise in farm returns which should lift Australia's average farm cash incomes to $184,000.

Although drought also hammered other eastern states back in 2019-20, farm cash incomes actually averaged notably better that year in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania than the results forecast for this financial year.

Farm cash income is a farmer's total cash receipts after deducting cash costs.

"It's no surprise the improved seasonal conditions of the past 12 months have been a driving factor in lifting incomes on a national level," said Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Sciences chief commodity analyst, Peter Gooday.

"But the result was mainly driven by a big rise in cropping income, particularly in NSW."

The seasonal break also meant most livestock producers were focused on rebuilding flock and herd numbers and therefore not reaping the earnings which had accompanied constant destocking sales in previous dry years.

Average farm business profits - calculated after adjusting cash incomes to deduct family labour inputs, capital depreciation and any stock and crop inventories - were tipped to recover from last year's slump into negative territory, to hit $60,000 in 2020-21.

WA farmers continued their run as the best performers by far, but their average cash income this financial year would also drop, marginally, to about $290,000.

The west was saved from falling further by the state's grain harvest turning out far better than expected after a generally dry growing season.

Aside from NSW, which is on track to leap from an average of just $20,000 to $150,000, South Australian broadacre incomes are set to be the only other improved performers this financial year.

SA will have the nation's second highest farm incomes, averaging slightly above 2019-20 levels at about $245,000.

ABARES has forecast Victoria in third place, with a decline from about $180,000 in 2019-20 to about $160,000, while Queensland, down from $195,000, was tipped to be neck-a-neck with the NSW average.

Tasmanian incomes were headed for the biggest fall, down from about $210,000 to $145,000, also putting Tassie farmers below their state's 10-year income average.

The somewhat restrained cash income performance by WA, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania has kept the national figure about $40,000 below its peak of a few years ago.

However, all other states, except WA, were set to have average broadacre incomes above, or matching their past decade's annual average.

"But outcomes have varied significantly within some states," Mr Gooday said.

"Last year was a very poor year in NSW, but despite the drought, it turned out better in northern and central Queensland and Victoria.

"This year southern Queensland, western NSW, parts of northern Australia and the WA wheatbelt have remained relatively poor performers."

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Dairy incomes were set to dip slightly in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, although remained historically high, while NSW, WA and Queensland farm returns lifted and benefitted from much reduced spending on feed.

However, Mr Gooday noted one good season would not mean a significant recovery in the agriculture sector's financial health.

He said average farm debt had blown out from $590,000 to $724,000 in the past decade, particularly in drought years, rising fastest in NSW.

Fortunately record low interest rates meant servicing that debt had become easier, with only 20pc of average farm income required to repay loan commitments, versus 30pc 10 years ago.

"But debt servicing has been much more challenging in NSW, where an average 65pc of net farm income went into interest repayments in 2019-20 - and some farms were paying well above the average," he said.

Conveniently, land values had generally risen faster than borrowings since 2010, so farmers have gained greater equity levels in their properties.

Mr Gooday noted Australian farmers also had substantial liquid assets which had been vital in helping them withstand drought costs and reduced incomes.

Smaller farm businesses, which make up about half all broadacre farmers, prudently relied on a relatively high proportion of off-farm income and low debt to ensure they had adequate liquid assets to weather the tough years.

Importantly, however, these smaller businesses represented just 13pc of Australia's farm production.

Bigger producers relied on more debt and bigger cash flow opportunities to survive.

"Overall the sector looks to be in a good position to rebuild, but good seasonal conditions will play a major role," Mr Gooday said.

"Another poor year in the next two or three will make it very difficult for those just coming out of drought."

He also noted Australia's climate adjusted productivity, which had climbed for 15 years after 2000, had plateaued and fallen at the end of the past decade.

Farmers' terms of trade had also taken a dip at the same time.

"While we can expect production growth to continue, staying ahead of the pack will become increasingly difficult as others catch up with technical and management improvements and invest in improved infrastructure," he said.

"We need to be not just reinvigorating our farms and investing in research and development, but making sure the agricultural policy, regulatory and environmental environment is ready to allow us to make the most of innovation and opportunities as they emerge."

Farmers had to be ready to use more drones, or autonomous equipment and have arrangements to harvest more data on farms while their agribusiness supply chain partners also had to invest and innovate to meet tougher customer expectations.

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