Farm to Feed forum producer panel, from left, Doug Murphy Claravale Station; Tony Hayes Douglas Station; Andrew Cochrane CPC Newcastle Waters; and Ben Wratten AAM Investment Group

NORTHERN Australia’s growing potential to diversify and strengthen cattle operations through integrated feed and fibre production was highlighted during an industry gathering in Katherine yesterday.

More than 100 producers, researchers, and agricultural industry leaders gathered at the Katherine Showgrounds for the Farm to Feed Forum, a collaborative event exploring the future of cropping, cotton and silage as part of sustainable cattle feed systems in northern Australia.

Supported by the CRC for Developing Northern Australia, the Northern Territory Government, Cotton Australia, NT Cattlemen’s Association, the Northern Hub and the NT Farmers Association, the event delivered practical insights for producers working in tropical conditions and seeking resilient, sustainable solutions. Facilitating the forum was Simone Cameron from Cotton Australia.

With growing interest in alternatives to traditional feed systems, the program featured sessions on the economics of silage, the potential of cottonseed, and successful integration of cropping into pastoral operations.

The forum highlighted a strong focus on real-world research that supports sustainable production and delivers practical solutions tailored to northern Australia.

Programs like the CRCNA’s Cotton, Grains, Cattle is bringing research to life, drawing on local expertise to develop integrated systems that work for producers. By addressing on-the-ground challenges and opportunities, the program is enabling more resilient and diversified agricultural enterprises across the north.

Diversification gives options

For Douglas Station’s Tony Hayne, diversification is not just smart, it’s essential.

“This kind of diversification builds economic resilience. After the 2011 live export ban, we saw how vulnerable single-enterprise systems can be. Being able to grow our own feed or tap into new markets like cottonseed gives us options, and options are what keep businesses going in the tough years,” he said.

Attendees also received updates on the 2025 ginning season at the Katherine Cotton Gin which kicked off this week, marking another milestone for the Northern Territory’s expanding cotton industry.

Last season, the gin processed around 80,000 bales driven by strong yields across the Douglas-Daly, Katherine and Big Rivers regions. With bales already rolling in, the season ahead is shaping up to build on that momentum, reinforcing the NT’s growing role in sustainable, dryland cotton production.

Susan Maas, from Cotton Research and Development Corporation, said northern interest reflected the sector’s evolution.

“We’re seeing strong interest from producers who want to build value on-farm, and cotton can offer a fibre, feed and seed solution that fits well in mixed operations,” she said.

The forum is complemented with a field walk through the Katherine Research Station’s cropping trials and a visit to a local cattle station to showcase cropping and silage systems in action.

The forum underscores northern Australia’s capacity for adaptive, inclusive, and future-focused agriculture.

Farm to Feed forum panel, from left, Susan Maas, Cotton Research and Development Corporation; Peter White, Cotton Seed Distributors; Angus MacLennan, Bayer; and Simone Cameron, Cotton Australia

Tim Schatz, Director NT Government Livestock Industries, addresses the forum

Mitch Taylor, Red Range Stock Supplements addresses the forum

Forum facilitator Simone Cameron from Cotton Australia