Pasture dieback is a condition that causes the premature death of tropical and sub-tropical grasses. Improved (or sown) grass species are mainly affected however some native species have also been reported, whereas broadleaf plants (e.g. weeds or legumes) are unaffected.
In this article, we discuss:
Identification and cause of pasture dieback
DPI and MLA co-funded pasture dieback projects
Conference papers on the issue
Queensland Pasture Resilience Program
Prefer to watch rather than read? We’ve got videos
Rather listen than watch? Here’s our podcast episode
Pasture dieback distribution
Pasture dieback affects grass pastures in eastern areas of Queensland, and north-eastern New South Wales, generally in regions that receive more than 600 mm average rainfall (see map below). The death of grasses initially appears in patches but can spread to large areas and whole paddocks within one growing season. The first symptoms include leaf discolouration (reddening and or yellowing) and unthrifty growth. Once dead, the affected area is commonly colonised by broad leaf weeds or legumes. Recent research has demonstrated several successful management options for paddocks affected by pasture dieback.
| Edition | Topics discussed |
|---|---|
| December 2021 | Wet season spelling with Ben Bennetto of Virginia Park, Charters Towers, the La Niña of 2020, Pathways to carbon neutral grazing systems webinar recording, sterile leucaena in WA, preserving Mitchell grass seedlings in NT, and quantifying the impact of grasshoppers in 2020 and 2021. |
| November 2021 | Transporting cattle safely with Melinda Leeds (WA beef producer), pestivirus overview, nine ways to take advantage of the beef trifecta, pain relief producer demonstration sites underway. |
| October 2021 | Ageing cattle by their teeth, a case study featuring how the need for efficiency drove data collection and utilisation, Mitchell grass death on the Barkly, biosecurity in WA, Wisdom from Wambiana, and Advancing Beef leaders. |
| September 2021 | Climate outlook, land condition guides for the NT, irrigated pasture and fodder field walks in WA, pimelea management survey, and the true cost of vibriosis. |
| August 2021 | GrazingFutures Roadshow summary, Carbon Neutral Grazing Network, Mosaic agriculture in WA, research update from the NT Team, ParaBoss, pasture dieback field day, Indian couch research update, and vale Jack Wheeler. |
| July 2021 | Gully erosion 101, grants available for biosecurity related research in WA, new research drives development of ecosystem service benefits, Sensible supplementation workshop for the Mulga Lands, phosphorus supplementation aids high returns in the Southern Gulf, the launch of the Central Queensland Advancing Beef Leaders program and much more! |
| June 2021 | The role of reference populations in genetic evaluation, adding value to your grazing asset in reef catchments, economic impacts of management decisions in the Mulga Lands, beefing up your business with HGPs, new and improved Stocktake GLM, parthenium or sticky florestina, doubling carrying capacity with leucaena, investigating the risk of irrigated buffel causing oxalate poisoning in the NT, lumpy skin disease alert, plus others! |
| May 2021 | GrazingFutures case study featuring early weaning and risk mitigation, online pastoral remote sensing tool in WA, new herbicide for prickly acacia control, E-Beef Mount Surprise Innovation Hub update, age of turnoff case study, NT pastoral feed outlook and the 2020-2021 rainfall poster map update. |
| April 2021 | MLA's top tips for getting calves on the ground, Becoming Lender Ready webinar recordings, Producer Demonstration Site participants wanted in WA, Pasture dieback on the Darling Downs, testing and refining new birth alert technologies in the NT, alternative livestock production systems feasibility study released for central west Qld and more. |
| March 2021 | Making the most of the forecast webinar recording, Surviving and Thriving in NW Queensland, canine ehrlichiosis update, cattle industry projections, addressing land condition issues and identification of toxic and non-toxic varieties of rattlepods. |
| February 2021 | A new podcast from the Western Australian team, liveweight gain on leucaena, protecting riparian zones with the GRASS program, gamba grass eradication assistance and more... |
| January 2021 | Calculating your green date, guide for aboriginal landholders participating in the carbon market, application of drones in the beef industry, woody cover change, using data to catch a silent killer, and more... |
| Easy P strategy | Traditional supplementation | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1: Post maiden mating muster, May 2021 | ||
| Annual growth | 109.3 kg | 113.9 kg |
| Pregnancy rate | 95.5% | 94.5% |
| Calves born during 2021/2022 wet season, weaned May 2022. | ||
| Year 2: Weaning muster, May 2022 | ||
| Calf loss from pregnancy test in 2021 to weaning in 2022 | 16% | 13% |
| Pregnancy rate | 84% | 70% |
| Cow average weight | 397 kg | 376 kg |
| Weaned calves average weight | 185.8 kg | 179.1 kg |
Identification and cause
Pastures are initially affected in patches and exhibit leaf reddening, yellowing, or both. As the condition progresses, poor growth, early senescence, and eventual death occur. Depending on rainfall, this process can occur quickly within one summer season. With subsequent rainfall, broadleaf weeds and or legumes commonly colonise the affect area (as seen in photos above). For reliable diagnosis other potential causes of the observed symptoms need to be ruled out.
For more help on identifying pasture dieback, use this Pasture Dieback ID guide 2nd edition produced by NSW DPIRD, NSW LLS and QLD DPI, read this article about pasture dieback signs and symptoms or watch this video.
If you see symptoms of pasture dieback (stressed tropical grass species with yellowing and reddening leaves), you might be able to find pasture mealybugs too. Pasture mealybugs (Heliococcus summervillei) are sap-sucking insects and they are currently the leading cause of pasture dieback.
They are tiny insects – juveniles that do the feeding that causes damage are about 1-2mm in size. Adult females can be up to 5mm, white or pink and ‘fluffy’ looking as they are covered in a waxy coat of filaments. Adult males are very small like juveniles but have wings and are rarely seen. This video shows juveniles and females feeding on a leaf of Bisset creeping bluegrass. Pasture mealybugs have natural predators such as ladybirds, lacewings and Chalcid wasp.
Management options
Recent research conducted by the Department of Primary Industries team has demonstrated successful management options are available to restore pasture productivity.
Click here to read the LATEST Management of pasture dieback factsheet.
Read this fact sheet on choosing grass varieties tolerant to pasture dieback produced by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
Click here to read about how a producer in Central QLD has been managing Pasture Dieback.
Watch the videos below for Pasture Dieback Management options.
Listen to a podcast episode with DPI’s Stuart Buck and Kylie Hopkins and grazier Owen Price about managing pasture dieback in the Arcadia Valley.
Or, hear from Cyril and Cody Close about their experience on their Roma property, alongside Ted Callanan (Department of Primary Industries), as they relay practical insights into the rapid impact of dieback and how affected paddocks are being managed. The Close family openly share what they tried, what worked, what didn’t, and how their management has changed as they rebuild pastures and confidence.
View the latest webinar on Pasture Dieback: Outcomes from 7 years of DPI research, development and extension across Queensland.
Report pasture dieback
Want to help us understand dieback better? Use our free app to report pasture dieback.
Event summaries
- 2025 field days in the South – information days at Tannymorel and Yarraman
- 2024 field days in the South – key messages from Condamine, Goondiwindi and Dulacca
- 2024 info days in the South West – key messages from Mitchell, Augathella and Blackall
- 2024 field day at Boonah – Species tolerance to pasture mealybugs
- 2023 field day at Boonah – Mealybugs and viruses at pasture dieback trial
- 2023 field days at Wonga, Moura and Gundabah, Middlemount
- 2021 field day at Brian Pastures, Gayndah
Pasture Dieback Industry Network
The Pasture Dieback Industry Network (PDIN) was created in 2020 to help connect graziers and ag professionals to the latest DPI research and events. The network finished in 2022 however click here to read more about the PDIN and the previous e-newsletters sent to the group.
Industry updates
December 2025 – Drones opening new doors for pasture recovery on difficult country
September 2025 – Beyond Kikuyu grass: What’s next and the opportunities
June 2025 – Where to the bugs go? Pasture dieback over the winter
September 2024 – Spring opportunities for pasture dieback affected paddocks
June 2024 – Recent learnings from pasture dieback research sites
March 2024 – Pasture dieback detected in new areas of Queensland
February 2023 – Keep an eye out for pasture dieback
March 2022 – Pasture dieback update
April 2021 – Darling Downs – Pasture dieback watch!
May 2020 – Pasture dieback in Qld (webinar delivered with NSW DPI)
April 2020 – Rigorous research to determine pasture dieback causal agent
February 2019 – Latest insights into pasture dieback (webinar)
May 2017 – Pasture dieback situation report
Trial site summaries
A summary of the trial design, treatments and key learnings for each pasture dieback trial site in CQ is summarised here.
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DPI and MLA’s co-funded Pasture Dieback projects
Between 2020 and 2022 DPI and MLA delivered two co-funded projects addressing pasture dieback. The first was aimed at diagnosing the cause and the other aimed to help producers identify and manage the condition. Read more the final reports from these projects for more details:
- Comprehensive diagnostic analysis of pastures affected by dieback
- Grazier engagement to increase knowledge, skills and ability to combat pasture dieback
Conference papers
| Treatment averages 2022 dry season | Medicated treatment: trough/supplement visits | Control treatment: trough visits | Control treatment: supplement visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average per day | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| Median per day | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.2 |
| Minimum per day | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Maximum per day | 11.3 | 8 | 10.6 |
| Number days with 0 visits (average of all collared cattle) | 8.5 | 7.2 | 28.6 |
| Max consecutive days with 0 visits (average of all collared cattle) | 3.8 | 3.6 | 9.8 |
| % days with 0 visits | 14.5 | 12.6 | 54 |
Queensland Pasture Resilience Program
If you are looking for more support to help manage country affected by pasture dieback, you might be interested in the Queensland Pasture Resilience Program, a partnership between DPI, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Government through the MLA Donor Company.