Saramat "Tou" Ruchkaew says fruit could be left to rot on her 85,000-tree mango farm outside Darwin, following cuts to Australia's working holiday visa program.
The changes announced by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke last week mean backpackers will have to enter a ballot if they want to remain in Australia for more than 12 months.
The number of second-year visas will be capped at 45,000, while just 5,000 third-year visas will be issued and in total, Australia will welcome about 38,000 fewer second and third-year backpackers than it did in 2026.
Ms Ruchkaew said the reduced numbers would be devastating for the agriculture sector.
"This is a big, big issue for the farming community," she said.
"The mango industry needs 2,500 people per season … [backpackers] work hard, make money, move on.
Under the current system, backpackers who complete 88 days of specified regional work during their first year in Australia can extend their visa.
And while the number of first-year working holiday visas is not being reduced, there are concerns backpackers could choose not to complete regional work if it will no longer guarantee them a second year in Australia.
"They're just like 'No, if we work 88 days, then we don't get in the ballot, why would I? I'm here to have a good time'," Ms Ruchkaew said.
Ballot plan 'lunacy'
Rebecca Koivu is visiting from Finland, picking up work while exploring Australia, and is considering entering the ballot to stay for a second year.
"I feel like all the farms are going to suffer because so many of my friends are doing that right now," she said.
"They're only doing it for the opportunity for the second and third years."
NT Mango Industry Association president Leo Skrilos said the ballot idea was "lunacy".
"Are we running a casino or a country?" he said.
Mr Skrilos said the government's attempt to reduce backpacker numbers looked like a "knee-jerk reaction" to One Nation's recent surge in the polls on the back of the party's hard-line stance on immigration.
"I think One Nation's popularity is because they're looking to do something about … the people that are coming over on visas that are taking units and houses," he said.
"It's got nothing to do with backpackers."
Ms Ruchkaew, who immigrated to the NT from Thailand 35 years ago, said she was concerned by some of the public discourse around immigration.
"The same as the backpackers, they come in, they work hard, they look around, they enjoy their life."
Visa changes add to tough season
Two hours south of Ms Ruchkaew's farm, at Marie Piccone's orchard near Katherine, 2026 has already been a difficult year.
"We had an extensive wet season with lots of flooding, significant flooding, significant erosion, significant road damage," she said.
"And then we've had really tough conditions with fire threats and wildfires once the flooding had finished."
Ms Piccone said the visa cuts suggested the federal government was "out of touch" with business owners and regional Australia.
"I'm not convinced that there's any consideration of what we [are dealing with] out here in what I call the engine room — people who are in business and are trying to have an economic outcome," she said.
"I think it's very clear to anyone watching that they're just worried about the votes in the next election and we're not a big vote base."
Territory and federal Labor at odds
NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said the Northern Territory relied "heavily" on working holiday visa holders and called on her federal Labor colleagues to offer the territory a carve-out from the rest of the country.
"The federal Labor government will show a complete lack of regard for the Northern Territory if they do not give us a carve-out," she said.
"I'm very happy to openly say that to my federal Labor colleagues and to our federal Labor government.
