Cotton Grains Cattle program: Addressing the fundamentals of cropping-systems in the Northern Territory

Improving the productivity and profitability of the Northern Territory’s cropping system is crucial for the sustainable growth of the regions agriculture sector. Current research and development efforts, along with major infrastructure investments, are supporting the establishment of a self-sustaining cotton industry in the Top End. However, significant knowledge gaps remain in areas such as crop establishment, agronomy, biosecurity, technical skills, and the social factors that present barriers to the growth of broadacre cropping in the Northern Territory. These gaps must be addressed for the sector to fully realise its potential. This project will integrate cropping trials with efforts to characterise and map soil types and water-holding capacity at participating trial sites, as well as in new potential cotton-growing areas across the Northern Territory. Scenario planning will also be conducted to better understand the economic and environmental impacts of the project’s recommendations.  

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