NT Farmers Association

28/10/2026

📣 NT Farmers AGM 📣

NT Farmers invites members and stakeholders to attend our 2026 Annual General Meeting.

📅 Friday, 27 November 2026
🕒 3 pm (Australian Central Standard Time)
📍 Humpty Doo Golf Club, 565 Pioneer Drive, Humpty Doo

🌱 All members have been emailed a copy of the Nomination Form and Proxy Form.

For more information, please email [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you there!

27/10/2026

NT Farmers has joined Grain Producers Australia (GPA), strengthening national representation for the Territory’s growing grains industry.

Membership gives NT Farmers a stronger voice on research investment, biosecurity, workforce availability and market access. This includes advocating for grain levy investment in varieties, rotations and crop protection suited to tropical conditions.

By investing in national representation, we can draw on GPA’s policy expertise and bring Territory growers’ priorities into decisions that affect the development of a commercially viable northern grains industry.

Read the full announcement here: https://www.grainproducers.com.au/post/nt-farmers-joins-gpa-to-boost-the-north-s-voice

A stronger national voice for Northern Territory grain growers.

GPA is pleased to welcome NT Farmers Association as a member, strengthening representation for growers developing the Territory's emerging grain industry.

With cropping investment growing across the north, there are important challenges to address, including biosecurity, access to skilled workers, tropical crop research and market access.

GPA Chair Matthew Madden says having NT Farmers involved will help ensure national policy decisions reflect the practical realities of growing grain in northern Australia.

The partnership brings together local industry knowledge and national representation to help support the future of grain production in the Territory.

Read more on the GPA website.

19/10/2026

Planting the Seeds of Future Agricultural Careers 🌱

NT Farmers is proud to support Larrakeyah Primary School QUEST school program, which provides Year 5 and 6 students with opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills and discover potential career pathways through hands-on, real world learning experiences. 🕵️‍♀️

As part of the program, 13 students visited a local passionfruit farm, where they gained firsthand experience of horticultural production and explored the innovative technologies and sustainable farming practices in agriculture. 💜 🚁 🚜

On Friday, the QUEST program participants had the opportunity to share their experiences and findings with the whole school, showcasing what they had learnt and encouraging their peers to explore the exciting opportunities available in agriculture. 🐔 🌾

As part of their presentation, the students demonstrated how to plant seeds, giving fellow students the opportunity to learn a practical skill and gain an appreciation for growing their own plants. 🪴 🌻💧

NT Farmers is passionate about inspiring the next generation and showcasing the exciting range of career pathways available in agriculture. By connecting students with real farming experiences, we hope to spark curiosity, build knowledge and encourage future involvement in this important industry. 😎 👩‍🌾 👨‍⚕️ 👨‍🏫

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13/10/2026

Know your rights, strengthen your negotiating position and get the most from the Grocery Code! 🥒🥬

If you are a horticulture grower supplying fresh produce to large grocery businesses, understanding the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct can help you negotiate with greater confidence and better understand your rights.

AUSVEG is delivering the Know Your Grocery Code training program, proudly supported by the Australian Government.

𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽
🗓️ Tuesday 17th November from 9am - 4pm
📍 Humpty Doo Golf Club

The training will:
🔹 Build your understanding of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct;
🔹 Let you know your rights and protections under the Code; and
🔹 Show how you can use the Code to confidently negotiate with grocery businesses and secure a fairer deal when negotiating with large supermarkets.

Registration is now open:
https://www.knowyourgrocerycode.com.au/event-details/humpty-doo

09/10/2026

The Level Up Hort Grower Roadshow is heading to the NT next week! 🌱

Join the team for two hours of practical insights, industry expertise and strategies designed to help you uncover opportunities to improve the profitability of your business.

Whether you're looking to improve profitability, identify where opportunities may exist, or simply stay across what's happening across the industry, you'll leave with plenty to take away. Workshop is free to attend.

The Level Up Hort Two Hours of Power Roadshow is heading to the Northern Territory!

We’re planning interactive sessions in Darwin and Katherine, bringing practical profit insights, real-world examples and industry benchmark data directly to growers.

Discover fresh ideas, challenge your thinking about the drivers of profitability and learn how to turn valuable insights into practical on-farm actions.

The details
Darwin — 13 October 3 pm Humpty Doo and Rural Area Golf Club https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1997518821567?aff=oddtdtcreator
Katherine — 14 October 12 pm Savannah Bar & Restaurant (Knotts Crossing Resort) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1997518844636?aff=oddtdtcreator


AUSVEG NT Farmers Association Elders

This project is funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable and onion research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. (Project MT22009)

06/10/2026

NT Farmers supports calls for a Territory exemption from the proposed Working Holiday Maker visa changes, and continues to advocate alongside the National Farmers' Federation and agricultural peak bodies across Australia to protect agriculture’s seasonal workforce.

In our statement released last Friday 2 October, NT Farmers urged a nationwide pause of at least 12 months on the proposed visa caps and ballot system.

The NFF has today called for urgent reform of Australia’s regional workforce and migration settings, reflecting our shared concerns about the impacts on growers.

Proper industry consultation and assessment of the impacts are needed before changes proceed. The seasonal workforce the Territory relies on must be protected.

Read our full statement: https://ntfarmers.org.au/visa-changes-put-territory-harvest-workforce-at-risk/

02/10/2026

A great story on our Industry Development Officer Chris Dang 🌱

“The strength of our industry comes from the connections between growers, researchers, industry groups, government agencies, and extension professionals all working towards the same goal.”

Here at NT Farmers, we couldn't agree more!

“The strength of our industry comes from the connections between growers, researchers, industry groups, government agencies, and extension professionals all working towards the same goal,” remarks Christopher Dang of NT Farmers and VegNET RDO for the Northern Territory.

Reflecting on his journey from grower to RDO, he adds:

“Having seen both sides of the fence, I have come to appreciate just how much happens behind the scenes and how important those efforts are in helping growers and the broader vegetable industry continue to thrive.”

Hear more from Chris about his journey 👉 https://bit.ly/4hx8YS2

VegNET 3.0 is funded by Hort Innovation, using the vegetable and onion research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government.

NT Farmers Association

01/10/2026

Backpackers are a huge part of the NT mango industry. Their role goes well beyond picking and packing.

Katherine mango grower and NT Farmers Board Member Nick Ormsby explains why proposed changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa could have a big impact on growers, with backpackers also helping with pruning, machinery and irrigation throughout the season.

30/09/2026

🌱 Paddock to cheesecake! 🍰

👩‍🍳 Students learn how to pick the perfect passionfruit 💜

Earlier this month, students from Sanderson School enjoyed a visit to Northern Territory Tropical Passionfruit farm where they got an inside look at how passionfruit is grown, monitored and prepared for sale. 🚜

The students learnt about the passionfruit growing process, including how to identify a mature fruit, understanding the role of good and bad bugs within the orchard, and irrigation monitoring and the technology on farm to help determine the best time to water plants. 🐞

Next stop was the packing shed, where they saw the grading machine in action and discovered how it sorts passionfruit into different sizes ready for sale. 🛒 📦

The students were also introduced to the farm's drone and learnt how it is used in the operation. Using it mainly for applying fertiliser, which is particularly useful in the wet season. ⛈️ Unfortunately, gusty winds meant they couldn't see the drone in action.

And finally, no passionfruit farm visit would be complete without a taste test! Yum...💜

A big thank you to Jason and Brad from Northern Territory Tropical Passionfruit for sharing their knowledge and giving the students such a wonderful hands-on learning experience! 🫶

28/09/2026

Your ag degree deserves a side of fries! 🍟

Applications are open for the inaugural Arches Agri Grad Program, giving graduates exposure to Australia's agricultural supply chain through McDonald's and supplier partners Ingham's, McCain Foods Australia and Turosi Foods.

The program offers paid employment for a minimum 18 months, plus McDonalds training, mentoring and networking! Applications close 8 October 2026, find all the details here: http://www.mcdonalds.com/arches-agri