Northern Territory Country Hour

NT mine worker shares how he survived a life threatening medical episode at work in Nhulunbuy. Australia is considering a deal with Uruguay that could increase Australia's beef quota into China.

Rising fuel prices have put a dent in outback tourism businesses, as the end of the dry season approaches. Have you heard of college rodeo? Young Australians are travelling to the USA to compete while they study.

What do backpackers think of the changes to Australia's working holiday visa system? A country butcher is making hundreds of purple sausages in honour of the Fremantle Dockers' second AFL grand final appearance.

The National Farmers Federation has cut a deal with the federal government for faster processing of backpacker visas. Federal Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt joins the Country Hour to discuss the water usage of data centres.

The NT government will build a $22 million flood levee in Katherine's south, to protect the town from "one in 20-year" disasters. Mango growers in the Territory are enduring a difficult period due to high input costs, less-than-ideal growing conditions, and changes to the working holiday visa system.

Members of the Kakadu plum industry have travelled from across the NT to meet with the federal government, as they try to get a planned processing plant in Darwin off the ground.

The Country Hour visits the NT's largest date farm, as work continues to restore the plantation after it was severely damaged in the wet season. An organic farmer near Darwin has decided to prioritise hiring local people for their workforce, rather than relaying on backpackers and the PALM scheme.

NT melon growers are getting super high prices, with seedless watermelons fetching $3/kg. There is a new player in the Top Ends cut flower industry.

Katherine mayor "surprised" by NT government decision to use flood recovery funds on an evacuation centre in Batchelor. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has announced a shake-up of Australia's migration policy

Australia has suspended imports of fresh pomelo from Vietnam because of biosecurity concerns. The Country Hour checks out a new "Pig Receiver" built near Berry Springs.

In just a few months, water from Manton Dam will be flowing into people's homes across the Greater Darwin region.

Working holiday visa slowdown a concern for remote NT roadhouses. Country Hour visits the Battery Hill Information Centre.

The Country Hour takes a tour of the new Strauss Water Treatment Plant in Darwin's rural area. Meet some of the winners from the Alice Springs rodeo.

About 160 staff from Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) have gathered in Daly Waters this week for its annual station challenge.

Tank farm expansion plans near Darwin Port thanks to $55m investment. Happy 90th birthday to the CWA in Tennant Creek.

North Australian SeaCulture a seaweed innovation company from Darwin, has won Croc Pitch 2026. The Country Hour broadcasts from day two of the Nuffield Australia National Conference in Darwin.

The Darwin based company would grow and process seaweed across remote parts of Australia.

The Country Hour broadcasts from the Nuffield Australia National Conference in Darwin.

Consolidated Pastoral Company CEO Troy Setter shares the company's plans for Vermelha Station. Have you heard of buffalo racing?

Australia's bush food industry is concerned some Kakadu plum products being sold online do not actually contain any of the native plant.

Gas from the Beetaloo Basin has started flowing up to Darwin this week to help power Territory homes and businesses.

Top End hunters are getting ready for the waterfowl hunting season, which begins tomorrow against the backdrop of the H5 bird flu outbreaks. An Angus bull called Wyatt has sold at auction for $420,000.

Mango industry concerned about slow-down in working holiday visa approvals. Jemena's managing director David Gillespie speaks to ABC Rural about plans to pipe Beetaloo gas to the eastern states.

Beetaloo gas is heading towards the Channel Island power station. Plans to reopen a major abattoir in northern Australia have been delayed, because of visa issues.

Gas from the Beetaloo Basin has started flowing to Darwin. The NT's mango crop is looking a bit patchy.

A new processing plant is about to be built on Seven Emu Station, as the Shadforth family scale up production of kulbanyi tea. What are NT butchers noticing about chicken sales in 2026?

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has granted an exemption for NT blacklip rock oysters from rules on cadmium levels, opening the door for commercial sales. It's been a bumper year for bush tomatoes in central Australia.

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.

The NT Cattlemen's Association says it has serious concerns about a report into the economic impacts of buffel grass. A bush foods company, started by former AFL player Shannon Motlop, is celebrating 10 years in business.

The Country Hour celebrates the life of Dolly Parton. NT Labor wants an independent inquiry into data centres.

Agronomy Australia has awarded Ian Baker the prestigious 2026 Neil Fettell Award at the 22nd Australian Agronomy Conference in Darwin.

A horse called 'Danny' has saved the day at Pine Hill Station, after a worker became lost in a severe storm. Ian Baker has been honoured at the Australian Society of Agronomy's national conference in Darwin.

It was a wet weekend for parts of central Australia. Geoscience Australia has been on the hunt for high grade silica deposits.

Today marks 60 years since Vincent Lingiari led the Wave Hill Station walk-off. Meet a farmer who powers his chainsaw with a V8 car engine.

The Country Hour was broadcast live from the Kidman Springs field day in the Northern Territory.

The Country Hour broadcasts live from the Kidman Springs Field Day, at Victoria River Research Station.

Rural news and events from the Northern Territory and the nation.

The Country Hour visited the Katherine cotton gin this week, where processing of the 2026 crop is underway.

The Country Hour visits the Katherine cotton gin, where processing of the 2026 crop is underway. The federal government say it's slowing down the processing of new working holiday visa applications, and the agriculture sector is not happy.

Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) has been granted four water extraction licences in the NT, totalling 15,568ML per year. The US is going to lift its year-long ban on Mexican cattle imports.

Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) has been granted four water extraction licences in the Northern Territory, totalling 15,568 megalitres per year.

The 59th Borroloola Bushmans Carnival is underway in the Gulf country. Federal, state, and territory water ministers are gathering to discuss proposed new national standards for data centres.

The NT government has formed a "Barramundi Fishery Adjustment Committee". Exploration companies are lining up to find gold in the hills around Pine Creek.

The Chinese-owned company Primary Gold, has today kick-started a $500 million project to build a new gold processing plant and restart the Mount Bundy Gold mine. Tips on how to get more mulla mulla for your cattle and country.

Rockmelons on the Stuart Highway after road train accident. The NT government has today released the new Katherine Water Allocation Plan.

'Mates of the Murranji' travel to Newcastle Waters for special centenary event. Indonesia sovereign fund invests $US2.5 billion in joint venture with JBS.

The Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation says it wants to start its own mining company in north east Arnhem Land. The famous Pussy Cat Bore Campdraft is underway in the Victoria River District.

NT Minister for Water Resources and Environment Joshua Burgoyne joins the NT Country Hour to answer questions from the audience. An independent review of BOM has been launched.

High Court rules in favour of native title holders fighting Singleton Station water licence. Demand is growing for camel meat in the pet food industry.

Zerella Holdings is ready to start harvesting its first crop of Northern Territory potatoes. What are prices like for fresh mangoes in August?

The Country Hour heads to the Darwin Cup and also the famous Harts Range races. Bruce Davey has won a national seafood industry ambassador award.

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.

Tipperary Station has been busy harvesting cotton this week. The Country Hour visits the Moline Golf Club ahead of its biggest weekend of the year.

A 350 kilometre stretch of the Sandover Highway has been closed for months due to flood damage. The H5 strain of bird flu has been detected in Victoria, and is spreading locally in Australian birds.

The Sandover Highway in the Northern Territory is still closed across hundreds of kilometres due to flood damage earlier this year. Meanwhile Elkedra Station's main access road has only just been opened to handle its first fuel truck of the year.

When the tiger prawn season starts this weekend, it's understood 27 prawn trawlers will be operating in the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) — which will be the smallest fleet in the NPF's history. Does Australia need a food fraud unit?

The Nobles Nob gold mine near Tennant Creek has partnered with traditional owners to do mine rehabilitation work. The Barkly Regional Council wants laws changed, to allow local governments to set mining rates.

The Country Hour broadcasts from the 75th Royal Darwin Show.

It's been a busy week at the Darwin Port for live cattle exports, plus some interesting imports coming in for Exercise Pitch Black. A new national emergency warning system called AusAlert will be tested around the nation on Monday.

The company behind plans to build a hyperscale data centre campus on a remote NT cattle station has spoken to ABC Rural.

The NT government has set aside 185 hectares at Weddell in Darwin's rural area, for a proposed $40 billion data centre and energy generation project. It's International Mango Day and the Country Hour has a special guest in the studio.

The Country Hour speaks to Energy North, the company behind a massive data centre proposal on Murranji Station. Paul Burke speaks about his new role as the independent chair of the National Farmers' Federation Horticulture Council.

What is being done to keep varroa mite out of the Northern Territory? The Katherine Show charity auction has raised a record $225,000 for the Isolated Children's Parents' Association (ICPA).

The Country Hour broadcasts from the Katherine Show, which is taking place in the town's centenary year.

The 'Territory Cup Campdraft' is underway in Katherine, with over 2,000 head of cattle brought into town for the event.

NT Minister for Trade Robyn Cahill says the Territory "will be the data centre capital of the globe". The Country Hour hears from people facing a very strong Barkly Breeze.

Oil prices have risen sharply due to further conflict in the Middle East, what could this mean for fuel and fertiliser prices? Early season Kensington Pride mangoes have been picked near Darwin.

Why are the world's biggest AI companies so keen to build data centres on NT cattle stations? Blackbull Station in the Douglas Daly region is up for sale.

The Country Hour goes to the Tennant Creek show. Australia has signed a uranium export deal with India.

The abattoir is processing about 240 animals per day and employs about 120 people.

The Country Hour visits the Rum Jungle Abattoir, which has been busy this week processing buffalo. A turkey breeder in Darwin's rural area is working to preserve a heritage breed of the bird.

The Country Hour broadcasts from Eva Valley Meats, which is celebrating 10 years of operation.

Helicopter pilots land in Darwin for 3-day safety course. There’s a global oversupply of durians at the moment. What does this mean for the NT’s largest durian farm?

The NT's chief vet Dr Sue Fitzpatrick joins the Country Hour to answer your questions about bird flu. How did the NT's Kieron McPherson go at the Australian chilli-eating championship?

The Country Hour today was broadcast from the 2026 Alice Springs Show.

Angus steers from Palmer Valley Station have topped the 2026 Alice Springs Show Sale, fetching $6.02/kg. Bushfires NT had a busy 'Cracker Night' with about 160 incidents reported.

Hyperscale data centre plans unveiled for remote NT cattle station. Katherine celebrates its 100th birthday!

Wadeye Sea Farmers bringing fresh seafood to Darwin. What should the Country Hour do with its rabbit meat purchase?

A horse from Mallapunyah Station has won the 2026 Gold Cup at the famous Brunette Downs races. Rain moving through Central Australia, including 31mm at Yulara.

The Country Hour broadcasts from the famous Brunette Downs races.

Indonesia wants to import more cow hides from Australia, according to Ambassador Siswo.

The Country Hour speaks to the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Dr Siswo Pramono, about growing demand for food products made of cow hides. The famous Brunette Downs races gets underway.

The cotton harvest is underway in the Douglas Daly region. The Australian Mango Industry Association is celebrating an impressive national harvest, with about 11 million trays harvested in 2025/26.

Australia's chemical regulator has approved the restricted use of the controversial herbicide paraquat, which has previously been linked to Parkinson's disease.

Australia's first two cases of H5 avian flu have been confirmed, what does this mean for the Northern Territory?

Indonesia's currency, the rupiah, has crashed to record lows. Why is rabbit meat so expensive?

Why has the NT's environmental regulator allowed Santos to release more toxic emissions into the skies around Darwin?

The NT's environmental regulator has allowed Santos to release toxic emissions from its Darwin operations for an extra 26 days this year. The Country Hour visits an agave trial in Katherine.

Workers at the Inpex Ichthys facility have restarted regular duties, after unions and the Japanese-owned company struck a deal overnight. There are 12 artificial intelligence data centre projects planned for the NT, where are they and who wants to build them?

Three shipments of urea will be delivered to Australia in the coming weeks, after the federal government struck a deal with three major companies. The Australian Live Exporters Council has welcomed Australia's efforts to fight lumpy skin disease in Bali.

The federal government says it will spend up to $1 million to deliver lumpy skin disease vaccines to Bali.

A new protocol has been approved, that will allow 'productive heifer' buffalo to be exported to Indonesia. The Country Hour jumps aboard the 'cattle feeding experience' at Manbulloo Homestead.

The NT's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Mining and Energy Gerard Maley faced questions at the Estimates Committee hearings. An NT cattle station is still dealing with paddocks and roads that are underwater after a very big wet season.

ABC Rural spoke to Sorensis CEO and founder Dr Kim Agnew about the technology and the plans to commercialise it.

The full scale of Nathan River Resources' financial problems has been revealed, with the company owing more than $360 million to creditors. The Bureau of Meteorology CEO Stuart Minchin answers questions from the Country Hour audience.

Di Tynan has received the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), as part of the Kings Birthday Honours. Nathan River Resources has entered administration, owing nearly $50 million to creditors, staff and contractors.

The company has been acknowledged for its "world’s first autonomous, real-time fungal surveillance network" that utilises patented artificial intelligence and automated microscopy.

Police are investigating the death of a 62-year-old man on a cattle station south of Katherine. The Country Hour heads to the finish line of the iconic Finke Desert Race.

Beef exports to China have slowed, as the industry approaches the 205,000 tonne quota which triggers a 55 per cent tariff. More than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches have been seized from a commercial breeder in NSW.