2023 Macadamia Season Report
The data presented in this report is based on samples submitted to Cropwatch Independent Laboratory for quality analysis. Cropwatch receives samples from all districts from Rockhampton in the north to Nambucca Heads in the south, so while the data is restricted to Cropwatch intake I believe it is a good representation of the whole industry.
The analysis for the 2023 season is split into regions, Bundaberg, SE Qld (Gympie and Glasshouse Mountains districts) and NSW (Northern Rivers and Nambucca Heads districts). The data has been compared to the average for the same months and districts over the past four seasons.
This year’s total kernel recovery (TKR) is significantly down on previous seasons for all districts (Figs 1–3), and is in fact the lowest TKR % in the four years of data presented here. On average the total kernel % is down by about 3% across all districts when compared to last season.
The percentage of premium grade in Qld is less impacted (Figs 4 & 5) than the total kernel due to lower reject levels (Figs 7 & 8). While the TKR is down by about 3.5% the premium grade is only about 2.5% lower than 2022. The Bundaberg average total rejects for May this year is about 0.8% lower than May 2022 (Fig 7). The reduction in the % reject kernel is largely due to lower levels of internal discolouration with an almost 70% drop, down from 1.2% in May last year to 0.4% in May this season. SEQ has seen a reduction in insect damage as well as internal discolouration and shrivelled kernel (Fig 8).
Total Kernel Recovery (TKR)
This year’s total kernel recovery (TKR) is significantly down on previous seasons for all districts, and is in fact the lowest TKR % in the four years of data presented here. On average the total kernel % is down by about 3% across all districts when compared to last season.
Figure 1 — Bundaberg TKR (%)
Figure 2 — SE Queensland TKR (%)
Figure 3 — NSW TKR (%)
Premium Kernel (%)
The percentage of premium grade in Qld is less impacted than the total kernel due to lower reject levels. While the TKR is down by about 3.5% the premium grade is only about 2.5% lower than 2022. The premium grade for NSW is down by about 3.5% (Fig 6), in line with the drop in total kernel, which reflects similar reject levels to the 2022 season.
Figure 4 — Bundaberg % Premium
Figure 5 — SE Queensland % Premium
Figure 6 — NSW % Premium
Total Reject Kernel (%)
The Bundaberg average total rejects for May this year is about 0.8% lower than May 2022. The reduction in the % reject kernel is largely due to lower levels of internal discolouration with an almost 70% drop, down from 1.2% in May last year to 0.4% in May this season. SEQ has seen a reduction in insect damage as well as internal discolouration and shrivelled kernel. In NSW the average level of rejects in March and April were lower this year compared to last year. The rejects for May 2023 are the highest we have seen for May in the past four years.
Figure 7 — Bundaberg % Total Reject
Figure 8 — SEQ % Total Reject
Figure 9 — NSW % Total Reject
Bundaberg — Reject Breakdown
The breakdown of the reject categories for Bundaberg shows that in April internal discolouration was the primary category. Internal discolouration reduced to 0.4% in May. Last year internal discolouration in Bundaberg was at 1.2%.
South East Queensland — Reject Breakdown
The reject breakdown for SEQ shows that insect damage is the major category. Overall rejects in SEQ are lower across all categories than previous seasons.
New South Wales — Reject Breakdown
In NSW this year we have seen a lot of late fruit spotting bug damage. This is a major problem because it cannot be removed by visual sorting as there are no evident signs on the shell. Late fruit spotting bug damage occurs after shell hardening, and it is only after cracking and examination of the kernel that the extent of damage becomes apparent.
Rejects in NSW show that immaturity (shrivelled kernel) was high in March then dropped off in April and May. Insect damage remains the major reason for reject kernel. Most of the insect damage is caused by fruit spotting bug with late season damage being particularly prevalent this year.
Pre-Harvest and Pre-Delivery Rapid Tests
Cropwatch has had a large number of growers seeking pre-harvest or pre-delivery tests to gauge the kernel quality and make decisions on whether to harvest or which processor/handler they should deliver to. With processors tightening their specifications and introducing penalties for reject levels, knowing what the nut quality is before dispatching can be very beneficial. I have had reports of growers who, after delivering nuts to a processor, have received a bill for as much as $1,400. Obviously, these growers would have benefited if they had known the reject levels before consigning their nuts.
In response to the demand for pre-delivery tests Cropwatch has developed a rapid test that can give the grower results in three days. While this test is not as accurate as a full kernel recovery test it provides a good indication of the likely reject levels in the batch. A $50 investment either before harvest or before delivery could turn out to be money well spent.
Collecting the Sample
The rapid test is only an indication and relies on the grower collecting a representative sample that reflects the average for that harvest round or batch. To collect a pre-harvest sample from the orchard you need a quadrat approximately 0.25m². It can be a square or a small hoop, the shape isn’t critical. Start at one edge of the harvest zone and walk in a zig zag pattern across the block, casting the quadrat randomly under at least 25 trees as you go. Collect every nut that falls within the quadrat. Continue until you have collected 3–4kg nut in husk. De-husk the nuts and then if you intend to sort the nuts, or have them put through a colour sorter, remove any obvious black nuts or rat eaten nuts that you are confident will be removed during the sorting process. Submit the remaining nuts to Cropwatch for analysis.
If sampling after harvest use a container to collect small sub-samples, either direct from the harvester during the filling of the skip/silo, or after the sorting table. Combine all the subsamples, mix thoroughly, and remove approx. 1–1.5kg sample for analysis.
Cropwatch has a sample drop off shed in the car park of the DPI Centre for Tropical Research, 494 Bruxner Highway, Alstonville. Alternatively, samples can be posted to Cropwatch, PO Box 153 Wardell, 2477.
Closing Remarks
In times like this, with low prices and stringent quality specifications imposed by processors and handlers, quality becomes even more important. Knowing your NIS quality is the first step in managing and improving quality. I encourage all growers to study and understand your kernel recovery reports and not just look at the TKR and premium grades. Cropwatch offers a consultancy service to assist growers with post-harvest quality control. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can assist in any way.
I would like to thank those growers and processors who support our business and look forward to continuing the relationship for the remainder of 2023 and into the future.
Regards,
Kim Jones
Senior Consultant, Cropwatch Independent Laboratories
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