Value of Aust agriculture industry rises

KEY POINTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL CENSUS:

* Gross value of Australia's agricultural production hits a record $56 billion in 2015-16, a rise of $3.1 billion

* All states except the Northern Territory recorded an increase

* The number of Australian farming businesses hit 85,681, rising one per cent since 2014-15

* The average farm size rose slightly to 4331 hectares

* The average number of years respondents were involved in farming was 35 years

* The top three crop types were wheat ($6.2 billion), fruit, nuts and grapes ($5.6 billion) and vegetables ($3.6 billion)

* Wheat production fell (5 per cent), oat production increased (14 per cent), Barley rose (6 per cent) and cotton production recorded a 32 per cent increase

* Despite fewer cattle heading to the saleyards there were strong beef price rises domestically and internationally.