Australian Farm Drought Risk by Profit Percentage Change

ABARES data shows drought risk as the percentage change in farm profit between normal and drought years across Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industry Survey regions. The dataset originates from the 2020 ABARES research report 'Measuring drought risk', with figures updated in 2021. It is provided by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

Use Cases

• Calculate drought_risk percentage from drought_yr and normal_yr profit columns to quantify farm financial sensitivity.
• Map regional drought exposure by joining geospatial AAGIS region boundaries with the drought_risk metric.
• Analyze the farmpredict model outputs for drought_yr and normal_yr profit to assess ABARES economic forecasting.
• Compare drought risk across AAGIS regions, excluding QLD South Queensland Coastal – Curtis and NSW Tablelands due to insufficient data.

Strengths

• Data is derived from the authoritative ABARES farmpredict model and a 2020 research report.
• Figures were updated in 2021, providing recent estimates.
• Available in multiple geospatial formats including ESRI SHAPEFILE and GEOJSON.

Limitations

• Specific row and column counts are unknown.
• Insufficient data for QLD South Queensland Coastal – Curtis and NSW Tablelands (Norther Central and Southern) regions, creating geographic gaps.
• Profit figures are modeled estimates (farmpredict) rather than direct observations.

Provenance

Source

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

Collection Method

Modeled farm profit data from the ABARES farmpredict model, as published in the 'Measuring drought risk' report.

Time Range

Figures updated in 2021; report authored in 2020.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-04-04.

Geography

Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industry Survey (AAGIS) regions, excluding specific areas with insufficient data.