I work for the Country Hour and ABC Landline. Keeping it Rural in the Northern Territory 🥭🐂🐊
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Articles by Matt Brann
Chickpea prices hit $1,000 per tonne as importers rush to lock in supply
Australian chickpeas are in hot demand, with delivered prices surging this month towards $1,000 per tonne in some regions. It is a significant jump from earlier in the year, when the market was trading closer to $600 per tonne. Grains Australia Pulse Council chair Peter Wilson said it was a great result for growers. "We haven't seen $1,000 per tonne since 2024, so it's significant. It's a great price," he said.
Chickpea prices hit $1,000 per tonne as importers rush to lock in supply
Chickpea prices hit $1,000 per tonne as importers rush to lock in supply Australian chickpeas are in hot demand, with delivered prices surging this month towards $1,000 per tonne in some regions. It is a significant jump …
Program: The rise of Brazilian beef and what it means for global trade
Brazil has overtaken the United States as the world's largest beef producer, and according to Rabobank, Brazil's surge in beef exports is reshaping global trade flows and intensifying competition in several of Australia’s key export markets. Brazil is estimated to be producing about 11.7 million tonnes of beef per year and exporting about 3.5 million tonnes per year.
Program: KGL Resources makes final investment decision on Jervois copper project in the Northern Territory
KGL Resources has today made a final investment decision for its Jervois copper project in the Northern Territory. Located about 380 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, the Jervois project is expected to create up to 350 jobs during construction, and up to 550 ongoing jobs during operations. KGL recently completed a successful $300 million equity raise to fully fund the development and says production is due to start in 2028.
NT mango yields down in 'strange' and challenging year for growers
The Northern Territory's mango harvest this year is complicated. "In 35 years of growing mangoes, I've never seen one [season] like this," grower Saramat "Tou" Ruchkaew said. "Some trees we've had to pick five times; it's been challenging, and of course the cost of picking has been high." Ms Ruchkaew estimated her overall crop was down 30 per cent on last year, but had heard of some other farms where yields were down 50 to 60 per cent.
Program: Luke Bowen Bridge unveiled to honour 'one of Australia's finest leaders in agriculture'
Family, friends and colleagues of Luke Bowen gathered in Darwin today to honour his life and witness the new Tiger Brennan Drive overpass be officially named the "Luke Bowen Bridge". Mr Bowen died in 2024. He was a highly respected agricultural leader, who spent six years as the CEO of the NT Cattlemen's Association, and was the inaugural CEO of Cattle Australia.
Program: New treatment plant ready for Manton Dam water
In just a few months, water from Manton Dam will be flowing into people's homes across the Greater Darwin region. Described as the Northern Territory's "most significant water infrastructure milestone in 50 years" — it has taken $174 million to bring Manton Dam back into service, providing up to 7,300 megalitres of drinking water per year. Before that water comes out of your tap, it will go through the new Strauss Water Treatment Plant.
Program: Consolidated Pastoral Company's 2026 station challenge — meet the winners
It has been a busy week at Daly Waters in the Northern Territory, where staff from Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) have gathered for its annual station challenge. About 160 workers from stations in Queensland, WA and the Northern Territory have battled it out in a range of events such as best jerky, photography, cattle handling, motorbike barrel racing, and tidiest station camp. ABC Rural caught up with some of the winners.
NT's Benmara cattle station sold for millions less than expected as carbon dreams crash
Benmara Station in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory has sold for $26 million, which is $14 million less than its last sale price in 2023. The 450,000 hectare station has been bought by UK-based livestock producer Shaun Davis, trading under the newly formed Benmara Land Holdings. Located about 100 kilometres west of the Queensland border, the station had been "largely destocked" over the past 18 months.
Program: Beetaloo gas flows to the Channel Island power station near Darwin, but what happens next?
Gas from the Beetaloo Basin has started flowing up to Darwin this week to help power Territory homes and businesses. The gas gets piped to the Channel Island power station — but what happens when it arrives? ABC Rural spoke to Territory Generation's Grant Hudson to find out.
Consolidated Pastoral Company buys Vermelha Station, increasing water licence holdings
Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) has continued to expand its vast portfolio of properties across Australia by buying Vermelha Station in the Northern Territory. According to documents from the NT Land Titles Office, Vermelha was sold for $47.4 million in a deal understood to include about 15,000 head of cattle and a 2,956-megalitre a year water licence.
Program: Professor Mike Bell awarded 2026 C.M. Donald Medal for outstanding contribution to agronomy
Agronomy Australia has awarded Professor Michael (Mike) Bell the prestigious 2026 C.M. Donald Medal, recognising nearly 50 years of impactful research and leadership in Australian agronomy. Professor Bell spoke to ABC Rural about the award, the future of agronomy, and how his career started in the Kimberley's Ord Irrigation Scheme in 1979. Professor Mike Bell receiving the C.M. Donald Medal from Agronomy Australia's Muhammad Sohail Mazhar.
Program: Ian Baker receives Neil Fettell Award at 2026 Agronomy Australia conference in Darwin
Agronomy Australia has awarded Ian Baker the prestigious 2026 Neil Fettell Award at the 22nd Australian Agronomy Conference in Darwin, recognising his "outstanding contribution to agriculture and his enduring commitment to developing the next generation of agronomists". Ian has spent more than three decades helping to develop agriculture in Australia's far north and is a big believer in the motto "start small, grow big". ABC Rural caught up with him at the Agronomy Australia conference.
Donald Trump's plan to import more beef faces backlash from US cattle industry
Donald Trump says the US will import up to 300,000 tonnes of tariff-free beef to "substantially lower" the price of ground beef for Americans. The US cattle industry strongly opposes the plan. More details are needed, but the policy could reduce the price of Australian beef exports to the US. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) in the United States has slammed President Donald Trump's plan to import more beef, saying it would "flood the market" and "undermine American producers".
Program: Katherine cotton gin starts processing the 2026 NT crop
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Program: Consolidated Pastoral Company granted 15,568ML a year for NT cropping projects
Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) has been granted four water extraction licences in the Northern Territory, totalling 15,568 megalitres per year. The Country Hour understands this now makes CPC the second biggest groundwater licence holder in the NT, behind Power and Water. (Noting the 40,000ML water licence at Singleton Station is currently invalid). The licences granted are: Powell Creek (Montejinni Limestone/Cambrian Limestone Aquifer - Wiso) - 480 ML/year.
Family-run abattoir Eva Valley Meats celebrates 10 years as more Territory beef joins the menu
Northern Territory cattle producer Fiona McBean remembers the day she and her husband Peter Cogill decided to have a crack at running their own abattoir. "Peter was off contract mustering, I was home alone, and we'd run out of our own beef," she said. "I went to a major supermarket and bought some mince … and it wasn't great. "Pete came home and we looked at each other and said, 'What is this? What are we doing?
Program: Trawlers sitting idle as tiger prawn season starts
When the tiger prawn season starts this weekend in Australia's far north, just 27 prawn trawlers will be operating in the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF). It will be the smallest prawn fleet since the fishery was established in the 1960s. So what's gone wrong? ABC Rural heads to the 'Duckpond' in Darwin to learn about the tiger prawn season and why so many trawlers are not fishing this year. Prawn trawlers in Darwin, getting ready to set sail for the 2026 tiger prawn season.
Record low number of trawlers set sail as tiger prawn season begins
The tiger prawn season officially opens today in northern Australia, but the number of trawlers operating this year has sunk to record lows. The Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) was established in 1966 when two boats began fishing for banana prawns near Karumba, but the fishery quickly expanded and by 1970 more than 200 boats operated in the fishery. This year only 27 trawlers have set sail to catch tiger prawns, which is about half the number of vessels that sailed last year.
China sitting on huge stockpiles of frozen beef as new tariffs bring imports to a halt
Australian beef exports to China have ground to a halt because of a new 55 per cent tariff that was triggered one month ago. According to Meat and Livestock Australia's (MLA) regional manager for Greater China, Murray Davis, beef prices in China have increased only slightly, because the country has access to "huge quantities" of beef inventory.
Program: Rum Jungle abattoir having a busy 2026 processing cattle, buffalo and some camels
The Rum Jungle abattoir near Batchelor in the Northern Territory is going flat out in 2026. Millions of dollars have been spent to upgrade the facility, which is now processing about 240 animals per day. There's about 120 people working onsite and this week the abattoir has been busy processing buffalo. What else is going through the abattoir in 2026? ABC Rural went along to find out. Kerry Kane and Peter Polovinka at the Rum Jungle abattoir in the Northern Territory.
Mutton and lamb prices hit record highs as supply continues to fall
Sheep have never been more expensive in Australia than right now, with the national mutton indicator surging beyond 900 cents a kilogram for the first time. At Wagga Wagga on Thursday, the local market report said sheep prices reached "new heights across various classes, with many in the yarding surpassing the 1,000c/kg [cwt] mark". "Heavy ewes sold for prices ranging from $255 to $396 a head, averaging 1,009c/kg carcass weight," the report said.
Program: Sorensis gets AACo investment to develop non-surgical contraceptive implant for cattle
Australia's largest cattle company, AACo, has invested in a veterinary pharmaceutical startup called Sorensis, which is developing a non-surgical contraceptive implant for female cattle. ABC Rural spoke to Sorensis CEO and founder Dr Kim Agnew about the technology and the plans to commercialise it.
Program: BioScout wins big at Horticulture Awards for Excellence for its fungal disease surveillance invention
Australian agtech company BioScout has won two awards at this year's Horticulture Awards for Excellence. The company took out the 'Ag Tech and Mechanisation Award' as well as the 'Tech and Innovation Award' during the Hort Connections conference in Adelaide. The company has been acknowledged for its "world’s first autonomous, real-time fungal surveillance network" that utilises patented artificial intelligence and automated microscopy.
Australia forecast to produce a record 2.2 million tonnes of lentils
Australian farmers are set to produce less wheat, barley and canola this year because of dry seasonal conditions and high input costs. But they are on track to produce Australia's biggest crop of lentils. National commodities forecaster ABARES says lentil production is set to rise 3 per cent to a record 2.2 million tonnes. Lentil production is on the rise in Australia.
Program: Prawn farm plans for the Tiwi Islands
Plans are underway to build a prawn farm on the Tiwi Islands. After successful trials near Darwin, the CSIRO along with Tiwi Resources, the Tiwi Land Council and Portaminni Trust, are now aiming to build a commercial tiger prawn farm near the remote community of Wurankuwu. To learn more, ABC Rural spoke to CSIRO aquaculture biologist Simon Irvin. The proposed farm on the Tiwi Islands would grow black tiger prawns. Darwin, Fishing and Aquaculture Industry, Agricultural Prices, Indigenous Australians
Mango twig tip dieback spreading in the NT as more trees get bulldozed
It is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 mango trees have been bulldozed in the Northern Territory as growers struggle with a fungal disease called mango twig tip dieback (MTTD). The disease has affected farms across the Greater Darwin region, with the famous Kensington Pride (KP) variety appearing to be one of the more susceptible cultivars. It has been estimated that up to 90 per cent of KP orchards in the Darwin region have some level of infection.
Cattle prices kick as rain tumbles in the eastern states
Cattle prices jumped significantly this week as rain fell across key production areas, especially in New South Wales. Meat and Livestock Australia's (MLA) benchmark Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) has surged to its highest level since 2022, with a number of saleyards reporting strong demand from restockers. At Wagga Wagga on Monday, young cattle prices lifted by up to 100 cents a kilogram, "reflecting determination to secure stock", said the MLA report.
Program: 'Water rush is nearly over': Interview with NT Water Controller Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson has been the Northern Territory's Water Controller since 2023 and over that time has granted more than 100 new water licences. But he's also been taking water back, under what's known as the use-it-or-lose-it policy.
Program: Chilli eating champion Kieron McPherson wins 2026 title in the NT
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Program: Record operating profit for cattle giant AACo, as herd grows to over 482,000 head
Australia's largest cattle company, AACo, says its operating profit has jumped more than 20 per cent over the last year to a record high of $71.6 million. Its herd continues to grow as well, with AACo now in charge of more than 482,000 head of cattle. Managing director and CEO David Harris spoke to ABC Rural about the company's FY26 results, as well as its investment in Sorensis, flood losses in Queensland, meat sales into the Middle East, and more.
Program: Top End beekeepers report large stock losses during wet season
The big wet season in the Northern Territory has had a devastating impact on bees. ABC Rural spoke to Julie Shugg from Bees Creek Honey, who lost 96 hives during the Darwin region's fourth-biggest wet season on record. She explained why bees struggle in the rain, and the ramifications for honey production and crucial pollination services.
Federal Court rejects northern cattle industry's appeal over impact of live export ban
The Federal Court has dismissed the northern cattle industry's appeal on the scale of losses incurred following the 2011 live export ban to Indonesia. The cattle industry was hoping to overturn a Federal Court decision made last year, which concluded that exports to Indonesia were already in "steep decline" leading up to the ban, and that exports in 2012 and 2013 were not affected by the ban in "any material way".
AUDIO: Northern Territory producers share lessons about cropping on cattle country
An increasing number of northern cattle stations are looking to grow crops for cattle. (ABC Rural: Matt Brann) The Northern Territory Government has granted clearing permits to several NT cattle stations this year, allowing for more than 25,000 hectares to be cleared for cropping. There's a growing interest within the north's cattle industry to produce more fodder crops for livestock.
Holmes à Court family-owned Heytesbury buys 11 live export ships in major deal with Vroon
Owned by the Holmes à Court family, Heytesbury has locked into a deal to buy the world's largest fleet of purpose-built live export vessels. Many of the ships already operate in Australia's live export trade with Indonesia. Exporters are expecting "business as usual" from the new owners. The Dutch-based shipping company Vroon has announced it is selling its live export subsidiary (Livestock Express) to the Australian company Heytesbury, in a major deal that includes a fleet of 11 live export ships.
Record beef exports to the United States as prices soar ahead of 'grilling season'
Australia has exported 146,951 tonnes of beef to the United States this year, up 13 per cent on the first four months of 2025. It is understood to be a record start to any year, according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA). Australia has been processing huge numbers of cattle this year, including nearly 500,000 head slaughtered in the past three weeks.
Program: NT Budget 2026: Interview with Gerard Maley, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
The NT's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Mining and Energy, Gerard Maley, was in the Country Hour studio today to take your questions about the Budget.
Program: NT Country Hour
The 2025/26 wet season was the fourth biggest on record for Darwin, with higher than average rainfall recorded right across the NT. Indonesian cattle importers and Australian exporters have met in Jakarta to discuss the live trade between the two nations. A Darwin-based business that turns food waste into fertiliser is getting very close to launching its first commercial product.
Program: NT Country Hour
The NT government has a big decision to make on how to manage stocks of Golden Snapper in the Darwin region. Will it ban reef fishing for a period of time? The Country Hour speaks to AFANT CEO David Ciaravolo. Core Lithium strikes a deal to sell 20,000 tonnes of lithium to Glencore, as it prepares to restart its mine near Darwin. Trends like Dubai chocolate have seen pistachio prices go nuts.
Program: NT Country Hour
The Territory's Department of Agriculture has started a breeding trial focused on developing snake bean varieties that are resistant to Fusarium wilt. Prices for snake beans have been on the rise this month at the Sydney Markets. The NT Prospectors and Detectorists Association says government plans for new fees and permits represent a broken election promise. The largest virtual fencing company in the world has announced its technology can be used through satellite internet.
Program: Snake bean breeding trial aims to tackle Fusarium wilt
Snake beans are a popular Asian vegetable grown in the Top End of the Northern Territory, but productivity is increasingly threatened by a soil-borne fungal disease called Fusarium wilt. The NT Department of Agriculture has started a breeding trial focused on developing improved snake bean varieties with enhanced resistance to the disease.
Cotton industry 'alert but not alarmed' by increasing numbers of bicoloured weevils in NT crops
A native insect appears to have developed a taste for cotton plants in the Northern Territory, with numbers of bicoloured weevils increasing significantly in recent years. NT Department of Agriculture entomologist Simon Ong said the weevils were first observed in 2021, feeding on pollen in flowers of commercial cotton crops in the Douglas Daly region. "Their numbers have increased exponentially with each season since, and they've also been turning up earlier in the season," Mr Ong said.
China opens the gate to more Aussie beef with new export licences for several facilities
China has granted export licences to eight new Australian facilities to start supplying beef, just months after introducing a range of trade measures and tariffs to protect its domestic cattle industry. China's customs website (GACC) shows late on Friday (April 17), China approved access to six distribution centres (cold stores) and also two abattoirs — including the Thomas Foods International meatworks near Murray Bridge in South Australia.
World's largest live export ship sails out of Darwin with 17,000 cattle bound for Indonesia
The world’s largest purpose-built live export ship sailed out of Darwin last night, with more than 17,000 head of cattle onboard bound for Indonesia. The MV Al Kuwait, formerly known as the Ocean Shearer, is 189 metres long and would normally be exporting sheep from Western Australia to the Middle East. But since the war in Iran began, the live sheep trade to the Middle East has stopped and the Al Kuwait has been anchored off the coast near Fremantle. Loading cattle at Darwin Port.
Program: NT Country Hour
The remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Maila have arrived in the NT. Elsewhere in the Territory, it's sunny and the horticultural sector is getting busy. The Country Hour takes a look at some new projects which will hopefully boost domestic supplies of fertiliser. What can farmers do to bring flooded country back into production? Labor's Member for Daly, Dheran Young, says small businesses in his electorate are still waiting for flood recovery grants.
Program: Douglas Daly Holiday Park cleaning up after March floods
The Douglas Daly Holiday Park in the Northern Territory is aiming to reopen in May after suffering through three severe flood events last month. Owner Leanne Lane has been busy cleaning up and says the level of support from the community has been amazing. A GoFundMe page set up to help Leanne rebuild the park has raised nearly $25,000 and a working bee is planned for Saturday, April 18.
Program: NT Country Hour
The Douglas Daly Tourist Park is cleaning up, after suffering through multiple flood events in March. Australia's largest privately-held feedlotting company, Mort & Co, has put up the 'For Sale' sign. NT Mining Minister Gerard Maley says the Roper Bar mine closure is "unfortunate", and he wants to hear details from Nathan River Resources. The Country Hour meets a stalwart of the NT geological surveying sector.
Program: NT Country Hour
A former employee of Nathan River Resources says he is not surprised the Roper Bar iron ore mine has shut down. The NT's only commercial potato farm is getting ready to plant its first crop near Katherine. The federal government has approved new methods for generating carbon credits in northern Australia through fire management. Varroa mites are showing signs of resistance to the two most effective chemical treatments used to protect hives.
Program: NT Country Hour
Workers at the Roper Bar iron ore mine in the NT have been stood-down by the company Nathan River Resources. A letter sent to workers on Good Friday claimed "the current fuel crisis" had impacted operations. Inpex is facing the prospect of a strike at its Ichthys LNG operation in Darwin, as it negotiates a new pay deal with workers.
Program: NT Country Hour
Trucking company Nighthawk Transport has gone into voluntary administration, reportedly owing more than $17 million dollars to creditors. Local leaders in East Arnhem Land and the Roper Gulf say Nighthawk's departure will impact their communities. Remote tourism operators near the SA/NT border fear shocking road conditions will stop travellers from visiting this season. The NT seafood sector is on the hunt for workers.
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