Primary Industry

The pastoral segment of Primary Industry supports around 2 million head of cattle, or 7% of the Australian herd, worth in excess of $324 million a year.

Producers raised an estimated 647,000 head of cattle in 2007-08 on 620,000 sq km of first-class grazing land that makes up 55% of the Territory’s landmass.

Primary Industries in the Northern Territory accounts for 1.8% of the Gross State Product. The horticultural component of Primary Industries contributed an estimated $157 million in 2007-08 to the NT’s economy.

The Territory Government is taking significant steps to ensure the long-term viability of primary industries in key areas including:

Research funding to improve the performance of breeder cattle and better position the pastoral industry to meet emerging markets.

The Indigenous Pastoral program – which brings together Aboriginal Land Councils and the NT Cattlemen’s association to develop more effective pastoral industry on Indigenous land.

Water Allocation Plan for the Tindall Limestone Aquifer (Katherine) for sustainable management and quality control of this resource.

Growing Regional markets

The NT Government, The NT Cattlemen’s Association and the NT Chamber of Commerce are all pro-active in cultivating regional markets for NT Primary Industry.

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