Douglas Daly Research Farm field day recap

Published

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.

Plant industries research highlights

Key topics covered during plant industries research updates included:

  • soil types and constraints
  • nutrient variability and management
  • novel pest‑management approaches for northern cotton.

Livestock research and innovation

Livestock‑focused sessions covered:

  • buffalo fly management
  • virtual fencing updates
  • genomics
  • the Crops for Cattle project update
  • results from the pilot demonstration of feeding whole cottonseed to cattle.

There was a large component presented by the Zero Net Emissions Ag‑CRC, focusing on selecting cattle with lower methane emissions and identifying plants in the northern feedbase that could reduce methane emissions. They demonstrated how the Greenfeed machines installed at DDRF work to collect reliable methane data and how the producer demonstration site at the research farm will progress.

Strong engagement across the agricultural community

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.

Acknowledgements

Thanks goes to:

  • the DDRF team for preparing the farm following significant regional flooding
  • Douglas Daly Caravan Park for catering
  • Bayer for sponsoring morning tea
  • CSD for sponsoring lunch
  • Nutrien Darwin for sponsoring refreshments
  • all attendees for their participation and engagement.

Learn more

To learn more about livestock and rangelands research that the NT Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is undertaking and see their project list at, read livestock industries projects.

To keep up to date with NT Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, follow them on Facebook.

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.The audience listened to NT DAF entomologist Brian Thistleton discussing pest management strategies from under the shade of the Mahogany trees at DDRF. 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.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.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 from ZNE Ag-CRC giving an overview of how the greenfeed machines will be part of the producer demonstration site and research at DDRF.
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.

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