Pasture dieback in Queensland. Image – AgForce.

MEAT & Livestock Australia and the Federal Goverment will invest $5.4 million in new research projects investigating pasture dieback after it re-emerged following widespread rain across parts of Queensland and was confirmed on New South Wales’ north coast.

MLA has been awarded a $2.7 million grant from the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment to help fund research and development, and has committed an additional $2.7 million to match the grant funding with producer levy investment.

Part of the grant is funding R&D investigating pasture mealybug as a possible cause of the devastating condition, led by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) microbiologist, Associate Professor Caroline Hauxwell.

MLA recently called for full applications from research organisations with the capability to undertake R&D into on-property monitoring, control methods, and mitigation actions for pasture dieback. These are currently being assessed. This recent call will support the Federal Grant implementation as well as additional work on causal factors and solutions across Queensland and New South Wales.

Pasture dieback has been periodically observed over the past 30 years; however, in 2017, red meat producers across parts of central Queensland reported widespread dieback of sown and native pastures. It has since been observed across southern to northern Queensland and recently confirmed on the north coast of NSW.

A small patch of dieback affected pasture. Image – NSW DPI.

MLA managing director Jason Strong, MLA director Russell Lethbridge and MLA general manager – research, development and adoption, Michael Crowley, recently met with affected producers and AgForce representatives in a paddock walk in central Queensland.

Mr Crowley said while pasture mealybug was seen as a likely contributor to pasture dieback, it is vital the exact cause or causes need to be validated with certainty.

“While R&D projects investigating pasture mealybug are underway, it is vital to investigate other possible causes, management interventions, and undertake detection and monitoring,” Mr Crowley said.

Mr Crowley said while widespread rain across many parts of Queensland this year had transformed drought-hit pastures, it had also sparked a re-emergence of pasture dieback.

“Ongoing drought had made it difficult to tell the difference between pasture dieback and the impacts of drought.

“However, the widespread rain is starting to reveal the true extent of the problem,” he said.

“This R&D is just one of the ways MLA is working to help identify the cause of pasture dieback and develop effective management measures and solutions for producers.

“MLA initiated a multi-pronged plan to address pasture dieback when it first emerged and we continue to work with a range of research providers, producer networks, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and NSW Department of Primary Industries, to capture and exchange information, and support producers to take action on-farm.”

AgForce cattle chair, Will Wilson, said pasture dieback is the number one priority for central Queensland beef producers.

“Whilst many parts of the region have experienced a decent break in the season, it is vitally important that efforts to address this issue are not masked by the improved conditions.

“AgForce and its members are following closely the investments MLA is making and are providing robust input into the direction of current and future work,” he said.

“We are confident the increase in investment and effort will deliver valuable outcomes for the industry.”

For the latest pasture dieback update and links to tips for managing pasture dieback, visit the MLA website.