Students swap classroom for cattle yards and crops
What better way to learn about agriculture than to see it first-hand.
Katherine Research Station (KRS) had 3 different schools visit in 2022, and it was great to see such a keen interest in the industry. Katherine High School, Barunga School, and Mataranka Primary School students dropped in to spend some time with Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) staff and learn about livestock and plant research, the Northern Territory (NT) agricultural industry, and pathways to a career in Agriculture (Ag).
The students got a front-row seat to cattle handling and working dog demonstrations by the Livestock team. Plant Industries staff took the groups past the horticultural trials at KRS, including the avocados, agave and mangoes.
Students were able to chat with KRS staff about careers in Ag to learn about a range of jobs. They were able to find out from people in those roles how they had got there, and what different pathways into Ag could look like.
KRS is located on the outskirts of Katherine, and many people drive past every day, but what actually happens there? The research station is a base for DITT staff that work across the NT to conduct research trials, extension programs and provide advice on livestock and plant production, as well as biosecurity. The DITT team work very closely with NT producers to deliver outcomes that will provide a benefit to their business and their industry. Together we work to promote and enable Territory economic development and underpin market access for Ag products by providing research extension and diagnostic functions in partnership with industry.
Other NT research stations or farms are the Berrimah Farm Science Precinct, Coastal Plains Research Farm, Beatrice Hill Research Farm, Douglas Daly Research Farm, Victoria River Research Station, Arid Zone Research Institute and Old Man Plains Research Farm.
Read more information about the DITT livestock industries projects and for an endless resources on all things north Australian beef, head over to the FutureBeef website. Read more about DITT plant industries.
If you’d like to have a chat about bringing students to Katherine Research Station or about any of the DITT research projects, email DITT pastoral extension officer, Stacey Holzapfel at stacey.holzapfel@nt.gov.au or call Katherine Research Station on 08 8973 9739. Find other contacts for the research farms.
