Pasture Dieback
Pasture dieback is a condition that causes the premature death of high yielding 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 by this condition.
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.
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| Left: Buffel grass pasture affected by dieback. Central Queensland | Right: Roadside pasture affected by pasture dieback. Central Queensland |
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| Left: Bisset creeping bluegrass affected by pasture dieback. South Queensland | Right: Signal grass affected by pasture dieback. North Queensland. |
Identification
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 DAF, read this article about pasture dieback signs and symptoms or watch this video.
Management options
Recent research conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries 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 video’s below for Pasture Dieback Management options.
Listen to a podcast episode with DAF’s Stuart Buck and Kylie Hopkins and grazier Owen Price about managing pasture dieback in the Arcadia Valley.
View the latest webinar on Pasture Dieback: Outcomes from 7 years of DAF research, development and extension across Queensland.
Also, you could read the Pasture Dieback Management Guide produced by MLA.
Report pasture dieback
Want to help us understand dieback better? Use our free app to report pasture dieback
Event summaries
- 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 DAF 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
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
DAF and MLA’s co-funded Pasture Dieback projects
Between 2020 and 2022 DAF 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
| Conference | Publication | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin NT, 22-25 August 2023 | Effective management options for pasture dieback | Stuart Buck, Polani Shadur, Paul Jones, and Kylie Hopkins |
| Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin NT, 22-25 August 2023 | Assessing pasture dieback with a drone | Polani Shadur, Stuart Buck, Kylie Hopkins, and Paul Jones |
| Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin NT, 22-25 August 2023 | Pasture development using the Action Learning Cycle: A case study | Kylie Hopkins, Polani Shadur, Paul Jones, and Stuart Buck |
| 20th Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba QLD, 18-22 September 2022 | Management solutions for pasture dieback: Outcomes of field research | Stuart Buck, Nicholas Brazier, and David Reid |
| 34th Australian Association of Animal Sciences Conference, Cairns QLD, 5-7 July 2022 | Targeted industry engagement was spot-on for pasture dieback | Kylie Hopkins, Nicholas Brazier, Katie Thomas, and Stuart Buck. |
| 33rd Biennial Conference of the Australian Association of Animal Sciences, Perth, WA, 1-3 February 2021 | The resurgence of pasture dieback in northern Australia | Stuart Buck, Nicholas Brazier, Terry Beutel, and Lara Landsberg |
| 33rd Biennial Conference of the Australian Association of Animal Sciences, Perth, WA, 1-3 February 2021 | Characterising pasture dieback: Analysis of the current situation in northern Australia | Nicholas Brazier and Stuart Buck |
| Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Brisbane QLD, 19-22 August 2019 | The re-emergence of dieback in pastures across Queensland | Stuart Buck |
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 DAF, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Government through the MLA Donor Company.