Independent Macadamia Laboratory Services
Cropwatch Independent Laboratories is fully accredited under the Kernel Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KLAS) — the industry standard developed and administered by the Australian Macadamia Society. Our accreditation guarantees that every test we perform meets the highest standards of accuracy and reliability that growers and processors depend on.
Servicing the macadamia industry from Central Queensland to Northern NSW, including farmers, processors and exporters.
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KLAS Accredited
Services & Pricing
All prices exclude 10% GST. Standard 7-day turnaround applies to all tests unless otherwise noted.
Kernel Recovery
| Test | Description | Code | Price (excl. GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic KR | Pre-shelled & separated kernel recovery | BSCKR | $26.44 |
| Standard KR | Kernel recovery, no moisture test | STDKR | $54.88 |
| Express KR ⚡ | Rapid turnaround kernel recovery — see note below | EXPKR | $56.87 |
| Ultimate KR | Kernel recovery and NIS moisture test | ULTKR | $69.34 |
Ancillary Tests
| Test | Description | Code | Price (excl. GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIS Sizing | NIS sizing by weight only | SIZWT | $17.46 |
| Size Grading | NIS sizing with count | SIZCT | $21.46 |
| NIS % Reject | Number of reject nut per 100 | REJCT | $12.47 |
| Stuck Kernel | Post cracking stuck kernel weight | KLSTK | $14.47 |
| Dehusking | Per replicate | DEHSK | $17.46 |
Moisture Testing
| Test | Description | Code | Price (excl. GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIS Moisture | Per replicate | NISMC | $14.47 |
| Kernel Moisture | Per replicate | KERMC | $17.46 |
Advanced Analysis
| Test | Description | Code | Price (excl. GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelf Life Prediction | 2-week rapid ageing with hexanal headspace analysis | SHFLF | $97.50 |
| Hexanal Headspace | Headspace analysis only | HDSPC | $58.50 |
Export Testing
Cropwatch provides independent laboratory assessments for macadamia exporters. Many buyers in markets including China and Vietnam seek independent certification of kernel quality and moisture content for export consignments. Our standard kernel assessment and moisture tests are used for this purpose — priced as per the schedule above.
Export assessments are a certification of quality for the receiving market and are not grower payment assessments. Contact us to discuss your export requirements.
⚡ Express KR — Rapid Pre-Harvest & Pre-Delivery Testing
With processors tightening specifications and introducing penalties for high reject levels, knowing your nut quality before harvest or delivery has never been more important. Cropwatch has received reports of growers receiving bills of up to $1,400 after delivering a consignment with high reject levels — a situation that could have been avoided with a simple pre-delivery test.
In response, Cropwatch developed the Express KR — a rapid turnaround test delivering results within 4 days. While not as accurate as a full kernel recovery test, it provides a reliable indication of reject levels and kernel quality, giving you the information you need to make confident harvest and delivery decisions.
A $56.87 investment before delivery could save you thousands.
⚠️ Express KR results are indicative only and are not suitable for grower payment purposes.
Collecting Your Express KR Sample
Pre-Harvest (Orchard)
Using a quadrat of approximately 0.25m², walk in a zig-zag pattern across the block, casting the quadrat randomly under at least 25 trees. Collect every nut within the quadrat. Continue until you have 3–4kg of nut in husk. De-husk and remove any obviously damaged nuts before submitting.
Post-Harvest (After Sorting)
Collect small sub-samples directly from the harvester during skip or silo filling, or after the sorting table. Combine all sub-samples, mix thoroughly, and submit approximately 1–1.5kg for analysis.
Why Our Drying Methodology Matters
Cropwatch uses Dorran Bungay EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content) based dryers — the same drying technology used by commercial macadamia processors — rather than standard fan-forced laboratory ovens.
EMC-based drying closely replicates the equilibrium moisture conditions experienced during commercial processing, ensuring our assessment results are directly comparable to what a processor will measure on receipt of your nuts.
By aligning our laboratory drying methodology with industry practice, Cropwatch delivers assessments that are meaningful, consistent and commercially relevant — giving growers and processors a shared baseline for quality and payment discussions.
Submitting a Sample
Getting your sample to us is straightforward. Follow the guidelines below to ensure accurate and reliable results.
Prepare Your Sample
Continuously sample from the whole consignment to ensure a representative sample. Contact us for detailed sampling methodology guidance.
- Full test (KR + moisture): minimum 1.5kg NIS
- Kernel recovery only: minimum 750g NIS
- Moisture only: minimum 300g wet NIS
Deliver Your Sample
Samples can be delivered by courier, express post or hand delivered directly to our laboratory. Wide Bay growers can also use our Bundaberg virtual depot service.
Cropwatch Independent Laboratories
NSW DPI Research Station
494 Bruxner Highway
Alstonville NSW 2477
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
After-hours drop-off available by arrangement
Wide Bay — Bundaberg Virtual Depot
- Drop off at Bundaberg Aramex — no booking required
- Daily collection Monday – Friday, close of business
- Arrives Alstonville within 2 business days
- Double netted, clearly labelled — no packaging required
- $3.50 excl. GST per sample (max 1kg)
- Billed on your monthly Cropwatch invoice
Receive Your Results
We will process your sample and deliver your results within our standard 7-day turnaround. All testing is performed in our climate-controlled laboratory using KLAS-accredited protocols.
Contact UsReady to Submit a Sample?
Contact our team to discuss your testing requirements or to arrange sample delivery.
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