Ausbuy

Aussie Farmers Face Extinction

June 10th, 2008

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released data showing that the number of farms in Australia is in decline. This is of no surprise to Ausbuy, we have long been warning this would happen. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has also found that farm operations worth between $1 million and $2 million has doubles during this decade. 

In 1994 Australia had 150,391 farms. In 2004 we had 130,526. Since the size of farming and remains unchanged (Australia had 769 million hectares across the decade)this proves that farms are being consolidated by big business. If this trend continues family farms will no longer exost and will make wake for huge agricultural enterprises. 

This is result of big business buying up smaller family holdings, with the owners being forced out due to years of drought, a loack of government support and pressure from cheaper overseas imports. Farms are bought and then consolidated by centralized management and heavy machinery is introduced which will reduce manpower exponentially, thereby reducing employment in the area.  This means people in the bush will have even more trouble finding employment and will be forced to the cities. Without enough of a population to support core services such as banks, hospitals and shops these will also close. 

The loss of 20,000 farms in one decade shows our country is rapidly changing. Unless the Australian population supports Australian farmers, through buying their products, from Australian owned stores, this trend will continue.

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