Researchers will use a nearly 25 million dollar investment to study new legume varieties which could offset declining pasture quality in northern Australia.

The five-year program will target pasture dieback, land condition decline and pasture rundown, which cost the livestock industries an estimated one billion dollars each year.

Rural reporter Ella Smith spoke to Meat and Livestock Australia Feedbase Program Manager Doctor Allan Peake about the main problems affecting beef producers, and what researchers will focus on to resolve those problems.