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Douglas Daly Research Farm Field Day recap

Page published: April 27, 2026 | Page reviewed: April 28, 2026

The Douglas Daly Research Farm (DDRF) hosted a field day on Tuesday 14 April, with over 120 attendees including producers, industry representatives, researchers and extension staff.

The day showcased research and on‑farm demonstrations, highlighting current work happening at DDRF and its relevance to Top End production systems. Attendees moved through a series of paddock and presentation sessions covering both cropping and livestock research.

Key topics covered during Plant Industries research updates included soil types and constraints, nutrient variability and management, and novel pest management approaches for northern cotton.

Participants of the DDRF field day standing in front of a crop and under gazebos.
Photo: First up, the team from Department of Lands, Planning and Environment covered soil constraints and some of the work they have done collecting soil cores from particular sites within the paddock. Campbell Underwood from Precision Ag spoke about the soil mapping that he has done at the research farm and how mapping can be used on-property to make management decisions.

 

Attendees of the DDRF field day sit under the beautiful mahogany trees as they listen to a presentation from Brian Thistleton.
Photo: The audience listened to NT DAF entomologist Brian Thistleton discussing pest management strategies from under the shade of the Mahogany trees at DDRF.

Livestock‑focused sessions covered buffalo fly management, virtual fencing updates, genomics, Crops for Cattle project update, along with results from the pilot demonstration of feeding whole cottonseed to cattle. There was a large component presented by the Zero Net Emissions Ag-CRC focussing on the selecting cattle with lower methane emissions and identifying plants in the northern feedbase that could reduce methane emissions. They demonstrated how the Greenfeed machines that have been installed at DDRF work to collect reliable methane data and how the producer demonstration site at the research farm will progress.

 

DDRF field day attendees stand around the crush at the cattle yards.
Photo: David Johnston from the University of New England talked about genomics and the Repronomics project which has run over the last 10+ years at DDRF involving DAF cattle.
Tim Schatz, DAF, talks into a microphone at the DDRF field day
Photo: NT DAF Director of Livestock Industries, Tim Schatz talked about the Crops for Cattle project and a pilot study where whole cottonseed was fed to weaners at DDRF.

 

Christie Pearson, DAF, holds up an eShepherd virtual fencing collar at the DDRF field day
Photo: NT DAF Livestock Industries Katherine team leader and beef research officer Christie Pearson spoke about the capabilities of virtual fencing (VF) collars and updates on the current VF trial. Christie also spoke about Mooternal project which is investigating maternal investment and its effects on calf loss.

 

Gemma Somerset (ZNE Ag-CRC) stands in the sun presenting to the DDRF field day attendees as she describes how the greenfeed machines will be used in a producer demonstration site
Photo: Gemma Somerset from ZNE Ag-CRC giving an overview of how the greenfeed machines will be part of the producer demonstration site and research at DDRF.

The strong attendance and engagement throughout the day highlighted the importance of locally relevant research and extension activities. It reinforced collaboration between producers, industry and research organisations in supporting productive and sustainable agricultural systems across the Northern Territory.

Thanks to NT Cattlemen’s Association, CRCNA, NT Farmers Association and Northern Hub for supporting the event. Additionally, we’d like to thank the DDRF team for having the farm ready to host the event after significant flooding in the region, the Douglas Daly Caravan Park for the brilliant catering, Bayer for sponsoring the morning tea, CSD for sponsoring lunch, Nutrien Darwin for sponsoring refreshments and to attendees for coming along and engaging with all topics presented!

To learn more about livestock and rangelands research that the NT Department of Agriculture and Fisheries are undertaking, see their project list at the link below:

Livestock industries projects | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

To keep up to date with NT Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, follow their Facebook page!