The NTCA is the peak primary industry body in the Northern Territory, representing over 90% of the Territory’s pastoral industry, from small family pastoral holdings and Indigenous enterprises to large corporate entities.  The NTCA’s mission is to ‘Advance and protect the interests of cattle producers in the Northern Territory’.

NTCA members manage up to 700,000 km² of the NT landmass and a total herd of over two million head of cattle

Established in 1984, the NTCA comprises four branches, one for each of the main regions of the Northern Territory.  Each branch is represented by a Chair and Vice-Chair who are local elected pastoralists and run the quarterly meetings. They are the voice of members in their region and represent them at board meetings.

The NTCA 11-person board is made up of the two representatives from each branch as well as the NTCA President and the NTCA representatives to the two national representative bodies: Cattle Council of Australia and the National Farmers Federation.  The NTCA board is in constant contact with the Darwin-based NTCA CEO and they meet in person quarterly to discuss industry issues and how best to bring about positive outcomes for NTCA members.

The NTCA:

• Is a leader in building long term and strategic international relationships which assist in providing an effective engagement platform for industry and government in our crucial markets.
• Continues to invest in indigenous training and employment with over 400 youth trained and mentored by our qualified staff, resulting in employment in the pastoral industry.
• Also focuses on development and capacity building for our industry youth, creating opportunities and the encouragement to maintain linkages to the NT pastoral industry and its future.
• Has a proven track record in the development and implementation of industry specific projects to improve the image and capacity of the entire beef sector.

The NTCA also works collaboratively with numerous community and industry groups.

Affiliated Industry Bodies & Groups

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Facts and Figures 

• Pastoralists generate more than 85% of the NT’s primary production value*
• The cattle industry and related service industries contribute $1 billion annually to the NT economy
• There are 2.2 million cattle across 45% of the Territory’s land mass 
• NT Pastoralists manage up to 700,000km²  of the NT landmass
• 8,000 head of cattle is the average NT herd size
• The average NT cattle property is approximately 3,000km²
• On average, around 600,000 cattle are turned off NT pastures annually
• The Darwin Port is the busiest live export port in the world+
• The NTCA’s Bohning Yard facility in Alice Springs was one of the first Organic and USDA NOP certified spelling and sale facilities in Australia
• The NTCA is fully funded by membership levies

*Source: ABARES 2016, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Northern Territory, 2016
+Source: NT Live Exporter's Association

Agricultural industries in the Northern Territory

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia ABARES 2017

 

2.  Value of agricultural production, Northern Territory, 2014–15

Note: The graph shows only data published by the ABS. Some values were not published by the ABS to ensure confidentiality. 
The "Other commodities" category includes the total value of commodities not published as well as those with small values.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia 2018