Home › Preliminary Pages › 2006-07 Highlights
2006-07 Highlights
Successes
Figure 2 Area sown to grains by
crop type, 1997-98 to 2006-07
Figure 1 Total grain production and
cropping area, 1997-98 to 2006-07
The GRDC in collaboration with its research partners successfully implemented a drought response strategy in 2006–07 to minimise the impact of the drought on R&D investments. Other successes for 2006–07 included the:
- formation of the National Wheat Breeders' Alliance
- formation of the Australian Winter Cereals Pre-Breeding Alliance
- launch of Pulse Breeding Australia
- first year of operation of Barley Breeding Australia
- agreement between the GRDC, CSIRO and Groupe Limagrain to form the joint venture Arista Cereal Technologies Pty Ltd, to deliver high–amylose wheat
- continued improvement of the alignment between GRDC activities and the objectives of our key customer groups—Australian grain growers and the Australian Government—and other stakeholders
- acquisition of the genome sequence of the blackleg fungus, enabling prediction of the longevity and effectiveness of particular blackleg resistance sources in canola
- identification of the genes which produce beta–glucans, a form of dietary fibre, in barley
- establishment of a free–air carbon experiment to evaluate the impact of elevated carbon dioxide on cereal crop performance
- development and extension of approaches to better integrate livestock into cropping systems, through the Grain and Graze program
- development and extension of effective integrated management approaches for pests such as the etiella moth in lentils and mirid populations in soybeans
- launch of Australia's first variety of canola–quality juncea, Dune
.
Challenges
Figure 4 Grain grower levy by crop
type in 2006-07
Figure 3 GRDC total income in 2006-07
The GRDC works in an ever-changing business environment in the grains industry. Factors that particularly affected the industry in 2006-07 included significant changes in global grain markets, and the severity of drought in Australia, which had a major impact on grains production and on the GRDC's levy-based income.
To meet these challenges, the GRDC focused on maintaining its existing R&D infrastructure as far as possible and minimising disruption to ongoing projects, while reducing the corporation's operating costs. This included working with R&D partners to identify activities that could be deferred or cancelled and potential savings in existing projects.
At the same time, the GRDC continued to work with industry and R&D partners to meet the ongoing challenge of achieving a profitable and environmentally sustainable Australian grains industry by:
- formulating a nationally coordinated approach to grains R&D, to reduce fragmentation and duplication and to ensure maximum leverage for R&D expenditure
- developing an industry-wide agreement on the evaluation and development of genetic modification technology as it applies to the Australian grains industry
- supporting the development of superior varieties and best farming practices, to ensure grain growers remain competitive and profitable and receive maximum value
- encouraging cross-industry cooperation on common issues and challenges
- developing improved information delivery channels.
Five years at a glance
| 2006-07 | 2005-06 | 2004-05 | 2003-04 | 2002-03 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRDC | ||||||
| Revenue | $97.4m | ▼ | $115.1m | $110.0m | $122.3m | $116.2m |
| Expenditure | $115.6m | ▼ | $126.7m | $119.5m | $124.0m | $112.0m |
| Operating surplus/(deficit) | ($18.5m) | ▲ | ($11.6m) | ($9.5m) | ($1.7m) | $4.2m |
| Total assets | $106.0m | ▼ | $127.7m | $135.7m | $141.0m | $151.7m |
| Total equity | $65.3m | ▼ | $82.4m | $94.0m | $102.5m | $104.2m |
| Industry contributions | $50.9m | ▼ | $60.9m | $64.2m | $68.8m | $65.0m |
| Commonwealth contributions | $35.8m | ▼ | $43.1m | $35.7m | $42.3m | $39.0m |
| R&D expenses | $103.0m | ▼ | $115.3m | $106.4m | $112.5m | $101.3m |
| Employee benefits | $5.6m | ▲ | $5.2m | $4.9m | $4.6m | $3.8m |
| Suppliers | $5.1m | ▼ | $5.6m | $5.8m | $6.4m | $6.0m |
| Number of full-time GRDC staffa | 44 | ▼ | 50 | 46 | 43 | 42 |
| Grains industry | ||||||
| Estimated number of grain farmsb | 36,417 | ▼ | 37,122 | 37,841 | 38,574 | 38,802 |
| Number of grain crops covered by R&D levies | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | |
| Estimated gross value of production | $7,154m | ▼ | $8,613m | $7,000m | $9,800m | $4,746m |
| Total grain production—summer and winter crops | 17,011,000 t | ▼ | 43,794,000 t | 37,288,000 t | 45,966,000 t | 19,248,000 t |
a. Number of full-time GRDC staff as at 30 June each year.
b. ABARE estimates for the total number of broadacre farms planting more than 30 hectares per year for grain production.
Figure 5 GRDC total expenditure in 2006-07
Figure 6 GRDC R&D investments in 2006-07
