The Northern Territory's cotton industry is experiencing a surge in growth, with the introduction of new GM-cotton varieties that can be grown during the wet season, leading to interest from pastoralists. However, the expansion of cotton farming is raising concerns about the use of vast leases previously reserved for cattle grazing and the potential impact on the environment, especially with fears of increased irrigation leading to damage of aquifers and rivers. Despite the NT's lack of water usage fees, environmental lobbies are cautious about the industry's growth targets, which include converting 100,000 hectares of land for broadacre cropping by 2030, and the potential environmental risks associated with irrigated agriculture.