Northern Territory Country Hour

Eight large fires are burning across the NT, including Judbarra/Gregory National Park where a quarter of the area has burned this year. Territory icon Tom Curtain is on tour, but his border collies have stolen the show.

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.

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

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 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 Northern Territory, totalling 15,568 megalitres per year.

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.