The NSW government’s Agriculture Economics research team is reporting that the state’s primary industries’ Gross Value of Production (GVP) has continued its strong recovery since the 2017–19 drought, reaching record levels in cropping and livestock.
Analysis of the latest data, from 2024–25 activities, confirms the sector has continued to bound upwards, with robust results across cropping, livestock and key sectors driving growth and jobs.
The state government is continuing to help build-up and protect the state’s primary industries with $100 million invested in agricultural research and $1 billion in biosecurity systems and programs.
Over the last five years primary industries’ GVP rose from drought impacted levels to a new record level of $25.5 billion, an increase of $13.6 billion or 114 per cent.
The data shows particularly strong results in cropping and livestock.
Cropping GVP surged 33 per cent to $11.6 billion, supported by above average yields and record pulse production across much of the state.
Livestock GVP increased 28 per cent to $7.2 billion, driven by record meat production volumes and strong price conditions, including exceptionally high lamb prices.
Among the data for individual categories, it was reported that cotton experienced the fourth consecutive year of significantly above average production.
Wheat production rebounded sharply from the year prior to reach near record production levels.
