Boots on the ground at NTCA Conference 2026

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) will return as a recurring sponsor of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) Conference when the industry gathers in Darwin from 18–20 March 2026.

With MLA Board Chair John Lloyd, fellow board members and Managing Director Mick Crowley attending, a major trade stand presence and multiple speaking engagements across the program, MLA’s involvement reinforces its commitment to northern producers and the broader red meat supply chain.

In addition to Mick Crowley’s Strategy to 2030 presentation on Friday 20 March, MLA’s Sally Leigo will appear on the Thursday 19 March panel, Adoption or Adaptation? What’s the Real Issue in the North, contributing to the discussion around innovation uptake and the practical realities facing northern systems.

Ahead of the event, Board Chair John Lloyd and Board Director Lachie Hart shared their perspectives.

Q: Why is the NTCA conference such an important event for MLA?

John: There is absolutely nothing that can replace “wearing out boot leather with stakeholders”. You can send emails and make phone calls, but at the end of the day, what works in agriculture is turning up. This year, the whole board will be there and will be holding a board meeting in Darwin to engage with stakeholders represented at NTCA.

Lachie: It is one of the industry’s premier events. While it’s hosted by NTCA, it attracts people from across the red meat supply chain. If you want to meet people, see trade products on the floor and engage with sponsors and speakers, it is all in one location. It is a great place to go.

Q: What does the NTCA conference provide for producers and the industry?

John: I first attended four years ago and thought they were the benchmark of how an industry representative organisation should conduct themselves. They are very professional, very measured, well-funded by their members and focused on a small number of critical causes that are important to the success of producers in the north. NTCA is an issues-based event. They do not overcomplicate it.

The issues tend to be market access, live trade, biosecurity, management challenges, feral pests and diseases. The north is sometimes forgotten from a geographic perspective, so it is critical for politicians and industry stakeholders to go there and see the challenges firsthand.

Lachie: The conference attracts highly regarded guest speakers presenting on topical subjects relevant to the whole industry. The trade display is enormous and there is great networking opportunities built into the program. It is not just about sitting in a hall listening to speakers. It is about connecting with others and having real conversations.

Q: What conversations are you looking forward to having in Darwin?

John: One of the most common questions we get is, “What do we get for our money?”. When we outline what producers receive in terms of market access work, international trade support, biosecurity arrangements, animal health initiatives, traceability systems and free trade agreements, many people are not fully aware of the breadth of work underway. Taking the time to explain how the system works and what might be improved is important.

Lachie: From an MLA director’s perspective, I am interested in where producers think research and marketing investment should be prioritised in the future. What does the northern cattle industry look like in 10 or even 30 years? What can we be investing in today to ensure prosperity for the next generation of cattlemen?

Q: Why is northern Australia so central to MLA’s work?

John: The northern Australian cattle industry is critical not only to the programs we run but to the infrastructure of northern Australia more broadly. Quite frankly, without the cattle industry in northern Australia, you do not have northern Australia.