While much of northern Australia has enjoyed a positive seasonal start to 2025, Queensland’s Central West is one area where many producers are facing tough decisions as they wait for summer rain.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Longreach managing partner Boyd Curran told Beef Central this morning some properties have benefited from storm rain which has produced good feed, with some falls occurring as recently as last night.

Queensland’s Central West along with southern Victoria, southern South Australia and WA’s southern and Pilbara regions registered below average rainfall in 2024.
For those who have missed out the storm activity has boosted optimism that a seasonal break may be just around the corner.
And it’s also worth kpeeing in mind that it is still only January 20, with February – statistically the highest median rainfall month for the region – still ahead.
“There is still plenty of optimism we will get a good start, but no doubt there are people having to make some tough decisions,” he told Beef Central this morning.
Some are ramping up feeding regimes to maintain stock condition with options including dry lick, molasses supplementation and cotton seed.
Others are lightening off numbers either by taking agistment elsewhere or selling stock.
But the positive market conditions and strong export demand outlook for beef were generating optimism for the year ahead, he said.
Satellite imagery analysis
While conditions are getting tight for many, an analysis of satellite imagery over the past 12 months suggests the region starting 2025 in a better position than it entered the previous year.
Al Rayner from Cibo Labs has provided the following rundown of how pasture biomass conditions have unfolded across the Central West over the past year:
Tracking TSDM Trends in Central-West Queensland: Longreach and Winton in Focus
The dynamic nature of Total Standing Dry Matter (TSDM) in Australia’s central-west Queensland offers a fascinating lens into the seasonal shifts in pasture biomass. Analysing the region around Longreach and Winton reveals critical trends influenced by rainfall, grazing pressure, and seasonal changes. Over the past 12 months, both TSDM levels and decile rankings have highlighted significant challenges and opportunities for graziers in the region. Here’s a closer look at the data from 2024 to early 2025.
December 2023: Late-Dry Season
![]() |
![]() |
The TSDM map for December 2023 reflected a severely dry period, with large portions of the Longreach and Winton areas dominated by red zones (<250 kg/ha). Biomass levels were exceptionally low, consistent with the late-dry season and the cumulative effects of prolonged grazing pressure and minimal pasture growth.
Key insights for this period:
- Pasture biomass availability was severely limited, creating significant challenges for graziers managing livestock feed requirements.
- The region ranked predominantly in the <10th decile, indicating historically low biomass levels.
March 2024: End of the Wet Season
![]() |
![]() |
As the wet season ended, TSDM levels in the Longreach and Winton areas showed moderate biomass availability. Looking at the TSDM map, much of the area around Longreach and Winton was dominated by orange (500–750 kg/ha) and yellow (250–500 kg/ha) shades, with localized patches of green (1,000–1,500 kg/ha) indicating areas with better pasture productivity.
Some key insights for this period:
- Rainfall had supported some pasture growth, but overall biomass remained relatively low due to residual grazing pressure from the preceding dry season.
- The region ranked predominantly in the 10–30th decile, indicating below-average biomass levels compared to historical wet-season conditions. Some isolated patches near Longreach and Winton exhibited 40–50th decile conditions, reflecting closer-to-average performance in localized areas.
The below-average ranking suggested a subdued pasture recovery, likely due to lower rainfall or higher grazing intensity.
July 2024: Mid-Dry Season
![]() |
![]() |
By mid-year, TSDM levels had declined significantly. On the map, the red zones (<250 kg/ha) expand across the Longreach and Winton areas, signalling widespread biomass depletion. Only isolated pockets-maintained orange (500–750 kg/ha) levels, likely in areas with better soil moisture retention or reduced grazing pressure.
Key Insights for this period:
- The decline was consistent with the region’s dry season, where limited rainfall and high grazing intensity lead to reduced pasture availability.
- Much of the region remained in the 10–20th decile, reflecting continued below-average pasture biomass.
- Notable expansions of red zones (<10th decile) indicate conditions among the driest on record.
October 2024: Late-Dry Season Low
![]() |
![]() |
The late-dry season brought the most challenging period for pasture availability. The Longreach and Winton areas were almost entirely covered by red zones (<250 kg/ha), with only minimal recovery in scattered pockets. This represents the annual TSDM low point.
Key insights for this period:
- Minimal standing biomass highlighting ongoing impacts of extended dry conditions.
- The region saw a persistence of <10th decile conditions, with widespread drought-like impacts dominating the landscape.
These conditions reflect one of the worst late-dry seasons on record for the area, emphasizing the importance of proactive forage budgeting and planning during periods of extreme biomass deficits.
January 2025: Early Wet Season Recovery
![]() |
![]() |
As the wet season set in, TSDM levels showed promising recovery. The Longreach and Winton regions have begun to see increased biomass, with yellow (250–500 kg/ha) and green (1,000–1,500 kg/ha) zones becoming more prevalent on the map. This early regrowth marks the first significant improvement in nearly six months.
Key Insights for this period:
- Rainfall has triggered regrowth.
- Strategic grazing management will be crucial to ensuring sustained recovery.
- The region is transitioning to 30–50th decile rankings in several areas, reflecting moderate recovery.
- A few pockets of 60–70th decile conditions have also emerged, indicating higher-than-average biomass recovery in localized locations.
Despite improvements, the overall rankings suggest a slow recovery, underscoring the need for strategic management to capitalize on the wet-season regrowth.
Conclusion
The comparison between January 2024 and January 2025 reveals stark contrasts in both TSDM and decile rankings. In January 2024, biomass levels and decile rankings were well below average, with widespread red zones (<250 kg/ha) and rankings in the 10–20th decile, indicating persistent dry conditions and minimal recovery.
By contrast, January 2025 saw significant improvements, with many areas transitioning to yellow (250–500 kg/ha) and green (1,000–1,500 kg/ha) TSDM levels with decile rankings rising to the 30–50th decile range and beyond. This recovery underscores the critical role of wet-season rainfall in driving pasture regeneration and highlights the importance of proactive management to maximize opportunities during favourable conditions.
HAVE YOUR SAY