Farming Systems in the Northern Cropping Region of NSW: An Economic Analysis J. Fiona Scott Economist, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tamworth Robert J. Farquharson Research Scientist (Economics), NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tamworth John D. Mullen Principal Research Scientist NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Economic Research Report No. 20 September 2004 ii NSW Department of Primary Industries 2004 This publication is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of the publication may be reproduced by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owner. Neither may information be stored electronically in any way whatever without such permission. Abstract This report presents a description of the northern cropping region of NSW and of several identifiable crop-based dryland farming systems therein. Six whole-farm budgets are described based on subregional characteristics and the related farming systems. They include agronomic and agricultural production characteristics as technical parameters in a transparent financial framework, and use a computer spreadsheet format to allow analysis of alternative technologies and management scenarios. Alternative crop rotations in a whole-farm context were compared, relating to six sub-regions in northern NSW. Keywords: farming systems, whole farm budgeting, NSW, crop rotations JEL Code: Q160 ISSN 1442-9764 ISBN 0 7347 1593 5 Authors’ Contact: Fiona Scott, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tamworth Agricultural Institute, RMB 944, Tamworth, NSW 2340 Telephone (02) 6763 1156; Facsimile (02) 6763 1222 E-mail:
[email protected] Bob Farquharson, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tamworth Agricultural Institute, RMB 944, Tamworth, NSW 2340 Telephone (02) 6763 1194; Facsimile (02) 6763 1222 E-mail:
[email protected] John Mullen, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 21, Orange.