Industries

Timber

• State Forests in the Chinchilla district total approximately 350,000 ha.
• 12,500 cubic metres of Cypress Pine is cut per annum.
• 5,600 cubic metres of hardwood (Spotted Gum and Narrowleaf Red Ironbark) cut per annum.
• Barakula also supplies railway sleepers, post timber and fencing materials, firewood and landscape material in varying quantities to a varying number of permittees.
• 7 registered sawmills in the Chinchilla district.

Agriculture

The main crops grown are wheat and barley in winter, and grain (sorghum) and cotton in summer, and the dryland cotton area continues to expand.  Minor crops include chickpeas in winter, and millets, mung beans and sunflowers in summer.

Chinchilla Agricultural Production Figures in Dollars (Australian Bureau of Statistics, based on Shire boundary prior to March 2008)

Grain Area and Production in Chinchilla 1995/96 (Australian Bureau of Statistcs, based on Shire boundary prior to March 2008)

Cotton

Cotton production in the Chinchilla district is steadily growing, with the majority being grown along the Condamine River, on the Brigalow floodplain and Hopelands area. Considerably more dryland cotton is grown than rrigated cotton, however, the dryland acreage is steadily increasing. Raw cotton is transported to the Dalby gins for further processing.

Area and Production of Cotton for Chinchilla (2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics, based on Shire boundary prior to March 2008)

Horticulture

Melons

Chinchilla is known as the melon capital of Australia, “supposedly” producing approx 25% of Australia's melons. Watermelons, rockmelons and honeydew melons make up the majority of production. The soil type in particular contributes to the quality of melons produced in the Chinchilla area.

Grapes

The Chinchilla area has been noted for its table grapes, however, there has been a decline in production over recent years. At peak production in the mid-1990s, grapes were worth over $82,000 to the area's economy

Other horticulture includes the production of stone fruit and vegetables.

Livestock

Cattle

All facets of beef production from broadacre breeding and fattening through to vealer production and feed-lotting are represented in the district. Beef properties range from 800 ha to 6000 ha in area, although some properties are over 40,000 ha.
Pasture area can be divided into five broad ecological regions. Three regions consist of heavy fertile soils:

• Brigalow plain and melon hole country
• Scrub country
• Heavy box or Condamine country

The other two regions consist of low fertility and phosphate deficient soils:

• Deep forest country
• Shallow forest country

There are 37 accredited feedlots in the district with one registered to handle 10,000 head, one of 5000 head, two of 1000 head, and two of 500 head. There are many other non-accredited feedlots.

Pigs

There are numerous pig producers within the area. A recently established commercial piggery is expected to produce 250,000 pigs for slaughter per annum.

Aquaculture

A 41 ha aquaculture project produces Silver Perch for export and local consumption.