DON'T let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Victorian farm exports rose $1.3 billion this week, and were being trumpeted by Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh on Monday.
Mr Walsh was quoting from the Department of Primary Industries report which found Victorian food and fibre exports had jumped $1.3 billion to reach $8.07 billion in 2010-11.
The problem was DPI seems to have difficulty discerning those exports which were grown and produced in Victoria as distinct from the tally of exports from the ports of Melbourne, Geelong and Portland.
The case in point is wool, where AWTA test data, which identifies district of origin, shows that Victoria produces 24 per cent of the national clip, whereas 48 per cent of the national clip is exported from Melbourne. The DPI was claiming the latter number.
Melbourne's wool exports include much of the South Australian and southern NSW clips.
Similar exporting scenarios through Melbourne exist for other export commodities such as containerised grain, beef and sheepmeat, which are produced beyond the Victoria's borders.
But despite the discrepancies, Mr Walsh was keen to highlight the value of agricultural exports.
"What is most pleasing is that our exports have increased during a difficult economic time, when the Australian dollar reached parity with the US dollar," he said.
"The end of the drought and stronger commodity prices, together with new access to the Indian market for Australian dairy farmers, are the key factors."
Mr Walsh said the Victorian Food and Fibre Export Performance 2010-11 showed Victoria remained Australia's leading agricultural exporter, accounting for 28 per cent of farm exports.
Victoria made up 86 per cent of the value of Australia's dairy exports alone with $1.96 billion, while the value of grain exports jumped sharply from $442 million to $1.13 billion.
A spokesman for the Mr Walsh's office confirmed there were discrepancies, but said it was still an exceptional result.
