The NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys make up the Southern region which represents the largest share of NSW primary industries output by value across the five regions, with the total value in 2020-21 worth $6.2 billion, a third of the state’s value. Recovery from the extended drought conditions in 2020-21 resulted in substantially increased output with cropping increasing in value by 160% year-on-year to total $3.1 billion. Soil moisture profiles through the region lifted so that during early 2020 the Southern region had soil moistures above average supporting winter cereal plantings for 2020-21. Similarly, water irrigation availability increased with water use for the region was 2.18 million ML in 2020-21, well up from 420,736 ML in the prior year.
As a consequence, cropping and horticulture industries directly benefitted with increased sowings and yields. Two key annual irrigated crops grown in the region experienced significant resurgence with cotton, which can also include dryland, increasing in value to $151.8 million in 2020-21, 154% higher year-on-year. Similarly rice production resumed at scale with the value of rice production 320% higher over the 2019-20 rice crop, to total $142.6 million in 2020-21.
Of the major outputs wheat production was valued at $1.4 billion, equivalent to 36% of the state’s wheat output by value, with Riverina and Murray production worth $951.2 million and $427.6 million respectively, an increase of over 200% on the previous year. Similarly, barley output doubled in value to total $415.4 million in 2020-21 with Riverina alone representing 29% of the NSW barley production and the largest contributor to the state’s barley production by value. Canola supported by higher prices and suitable growing condition was valued at $584.6 million for the region, with the Riverina and Murray accounting for 41% and 25% respectively of the state’s total canola output value in the year.
Amongst horticulture crops almond production continued to grow, as the large portion of recently planted trees continued to mature, with production increasing in value terms by 21% year-on-year to total $75.2 million in 2020-21. Orange production remained the highest value horticultural crop for the region valued to $204.5 million in 2020-21, with the bulk of the crop grown in the Riverina accounting for 63% of the state’s orange production by value. Wine grape production decreased in value terms by 10% to $120.3 million in 2020-21 with the Riverina area the second largest contributor of wine grapes by value in NSW. This decline in the Southern region’s wine grape value was largely attributed to lower pricing per tonne obtained for Riverina grapes in 2021.
Livestock industries in the Southern region are dominated by beef cattle and sheep and lamb production. The value of cattle production decreased by 15% in 2020-21 from the prior year totalling $561.0 million, while sheep and lamb production declined to $417.1 million, 12% lower than 2019-20. Various factors likely contributed to this regional outcome including herd rebuilding, some easing of sheep prices from the previous year and a refocus of producers on cropping opportunities given improved rainfall. Despite this the Southern region produced the largest value of livestock in NSW and was valued at $1.475 billion in 2020-21, with cattle contributing 38% and sheep and lambs 28% of the total livestock sales value.