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Boonah field day will share research into grasses’ tolerance to pasture dieback

Beef Central 20/05/2024

The results of a four-year trial assessing the tolerance of 30 grass varieties to pasture dieback will be showcased at a field day near Boonah tomorrow, Tuesday 21 May.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries principal pasture agronomist Gavin Peck said pasture dieback—a condition that affected summer growing sown pastures — had been observed in the Fassifern Valley since 2017.

He said pasture dieback had now been confirmed across much of southern Queensland and in some areas of northern New South Wales.

“Locally, pasture dieback has been widely reported in Rhodes grass varieties, panic grass varieties, kikuyu, paspalum, digit grass and creeping bluegrass,” Mr Peck said.

“In 2020 we began a trial to test 30 grass varieties for tolerance to pasture dieback —including buffel, Rhodes and panic grasses.

“In the 2021/22 and 2023/24 growing seasons, we applied high numbers of pasture mealybug to each variety and measured the effect on pasture health and biomass.

“Now we’re opening the gates of the trial site to share the results.”

Mr Peck said the field day would be of particular interest to Queensland producers whose pastures are affected by dieback.

“We have trialled a wide range of sown pasture species in an open field situation that is periodically grazed by cattle,” he said.

“This is the only trial of its kind in Queensland and has now been running for 4 growing seasons.

“Our results show that some varieties are highly susceptible to pasture dieback, while others appear more tolerant.

“Some pasture varieties can withstand a heavy mealybug load, while other varieties have really struggled, and their plots have been colonised by other more tolerant varieties.

“We’re looking forward to sharing the trial results with producers who may be dealing with the effects of pasture dieback.”

Mr Peck said attendees would see a wide diversity of grass varieties and hear about their tolerance to dieback.

“This trial site is a must-see for producers who are considering planting a new area of improved pasture or renovating an existing pasture that has been badly affected by dieback and are looking for a more resistant variety,” he said.

The field day will be held on a private property near Boonah from 9am to 12pm on Tuesday 21 May. Attendees will be given the address once they’ve registered for the free event.

Pasture dieback research continues through the Queensland Pasture Resilience Program, a partnership between DAF, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Australian Government through the MLA Donor Company.

Source: Qld Government. More information about pasture dieback (including an identification guide, management options and webinar) is available at www.futurebeef.com.au or by calling 13 25 23.

Registrations for the free field day are essential and can be made online at www.trybooking.com/CRSKQ

For more information, contact Ted Callanan by emailing ted.callanan@daf.qld.gov.au or calling 0439 627 497.

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