B.PAS.0002 - On line summary PAS.0002 Pasture dieback grant

Summary

The primary purpose of the Federal grant funding agreement between MLA and the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment was to identify the cause(s) of pasture dieback and develop management strategies to feed livestock.

This was achieved by progressing research into management interventions for pasture dieback that included:
• Identifying the agent(s) and predisposing factors contributing to pasture dieback. This includes pasture mealybug, biology, history and complex interactions; remote sensing of pasture dieback and spread dynamics.
• Short-term interventions – developing and testing of management practices that producers can use in the short-term (up to 3yrs). This includes discovery of resistant pasture varieties and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies and education.
• Longer-term interventions – developing and testing management practices that producers can use over the longer-term (>3yrs). E.g., evaluation and testing of resistant pasture varieties.
• Extension – communication of project outputs to producers and interested stakeholders.

Objectives

The primary purpose of the Federal grant funding agreement between MLA and the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment was to identify the cause(s) of pasture dieback and develop management strategies to feed livestock. This was achieved by progressing research into management interventions for pasture dieback that included:
• Identifying the agent(s) and predisposing factors contributing to pasture dieback. This includes pasture mealybug, biology, history and complex interactions; remote sensing of pasture dieback and spread dynamics.
• Short-term interventions – developing and testing of management practices that producers can use in the short-term (up to 3yrs). This includes discovery of resistant pasture varieties and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies and education.
• Longer-term interventions – developing and testing management practices that producers can use over the longer-term (>3yrs). E.g., evaluation and testing of resistant pasture varieties.
• Extension – communication of project outputs to producers and interested stakeholders

Key findings

The Pasture Dieback Research Program has provided clearer answers to the problem facing producers. The project identified the primary cause of pasture dieback and some of the associated risk factors, as well as management actions to support affected livestock producers in feeding their livestock and long-term strategies to reduce the risk of new dieback incursions.

Benefits to industry

The Pasture Dieback Research Program has provided clearer answers to the problem facing producers. The project identified the primary cause of pasture dieback and some of the associated risk factors, as well as management actions to support affected livestock producers in feeding their livestock and long-term strategies to reduce the risk of new dieback incursions.

MLA action

Following completion of the Grant funding, MLA has used outcomes of the Grant to inform and commission new investments,

Future research

Future work will help producers develop skills and confidence to implement solutions for their individual enterprises and improve forecasting and detection methods for new pasture dieback incursions.
Causes
• continuing to explore the role of the insects known as ‘ground pearls’ - being present but do not appear to be the primary cause of pasture dieback.
• researching the role of a novel velarivirus
• conditions to support optimal recovery recognising that pasture growth naturally recovers from dieback

Detection- mapping and monitoring
• Early diagnosis of dieback is difficult. Annotated maps that display current and historical distribution of dieback outbreaks would be a valuable resource for producers to identify potential dieback risk, to manage feed budgets and plan remedial action early.
• Further development of remote sensing capacity

Managing Pasture Dieback and Mitigating Future Risk
• Sowing areas of arable farmland to non-susceptible forage crops to rapidly increase feed availability.
• Monitoring paddocks for mealybugs
• Integrated pest management approaches and associated management practices
• Improving soil fertility and soil condition (health) through improved legume content and grazing management
• Endophytes (beneficial fungi that live in association with plants) have been identified that can reduce mealybug damage.