Data sources and definitions



The information in this article comes from a variety of sources. The information on individuals and families draws on data from the ABS 1981, 2006 and 2011 Censuses of Population and Housing, as well as the 2009-10 Survey of Income and Housing. Information about farm businesses and agricultural production comes from a range of sources, including the 2011 Agricultural Census, and Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Agricultural Commodities Statistics, 2011.



The data on farmers from the 2006 and 2011 Census and the 2009-10 Survey of Income and Housing is based on the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). Data on farmers from the 1981 Census is based on the Classification and Classified List of Occupations (CCLO). While there are some differences between these two classifications, and it is not possible to directly map CCLO categories onto ANZSCO, the considerable degree of overlap at the broad level (e.g. farmers and farm managers) is sufficient for the comparisons contained in this article.



In this article, farmers are those people who were employed during the week prior to the Census of Population and Housing and who reported that their main occupation was a farmer or farm manager.



Farmers and farm managers plan, organise, control, coordinate and perform farming operations in agricultural establishments. Tasks performed typically include planning and coordinating the operation of hatcheries and crop production; breeding and raising livestock; monitoring and maintaining the health of stock; identifying and controlling environmental toxins, weeds, pests and diseases; organising and conducting farming operations such as maintaining buildings, water supply and equipment; managing business capital, monitoring market activity and planning production to meet contract requirements and market demand.



Farming families are those families where the family reference person and /or their spouse or partner reported that their main occupation was a farmer or farm manager.



For any distribution (e.g. age) the median value is that which divides the relevant population into two equal parts, half falling below the value, and half above it.



People with low economic resources are those in households in the lowest 40% of both equivalised adjusted disposable household income and equivalised household net worth.