Who are primary producers?

Primary producers are the people and organisations that work with our natural resources to grow, harvest or extract primary products. Most products from the primary industry sector are considered raw materials for other industries.

Major industries in this sector include agriculture, fishing, aquaculture, forestry and all mining and quarrying industries.

Primary producers are the people who work in these primary industries to produce raw materials. There are quite a lot of people and organisations that are a part of this, ranging from farmers, fishers, croppers, growers, foresters, timber fallers and miners. The list is extensive!

Here is an introduction to the industries which primary producers work in.

Agriculture and horticulture (farming)

Farming is the first step in food production, with farmers growing food, feed and fibre for our communities. Food is a straightforward idea - we know people eat it and it’s vital for life! Feed is used to sustain animals which provide us with a range of meat and other animal products like eggs. Fibre is a little more difficult to grasp, as fibre comes from a range of sources including crops, trees and some animals, and is used to make a range of products, including paper, cotton and wool.

Producer diaries - brought to you by Meat and Livestock Australia.
Read about the issues being confronted by producers across the country and how they are managing their businesses through these current tough times, both climatic and economic.

Commercial fishing and aquaculture

Commercial fishing is the active collection of fish and other aquatic life such as prawns, crabs and squid via nets, traps and lines.

Aquaculture is a form of aquatic farming, including the breeding of fish and prawns to harvest or to restock waterways. Growing cultured pearls is also an emerging aquaculture industry.

Mining (minerals and petroleum)

Mining is the process whereby natural resources are extracted from the ground and turned into raw materials. The extraction of base metals such as gold, and fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, can all be considered mining.

Forestry

Forestry involves the active management of forests for a range of products and values, with timber production a key aspect of this management.