Despite having one of the driest landscapes in the world, Australia has been successful in adapting agricultural practices to the land. This volume explains these innovations in farming, focusing on the technologies that the farmers and graziers actually used. It also discusses major issues facing the various agricultural enterprises.

Agriculture in Australia has a lively history. The first European settlers in 1788 brought agricultural technologies with them from their homelands, influencing early practices in Australia. Wool production dominated the 19th century, while dairying grew rapidly during the first half of the 20th century. Despite having one of the driest landscapes in the world, Australia has been successful in adapting agricultural practices to the land, and these innovations in farming are explained in this volume. Focusing on the technologies that the farmers and graziers actually used, this book follows the history of each of the major commodities of groups of commodities to the end of the 20th century; grain crops, sheep and wool, beef and dairy, working bullocks and horses, sugar, cotton, fruit and vegetables, and grapes and wine. Major issues facing the various agricultural enterprises as they enter the 21st century are also discussed.