China wants our nuts

Ideal growing conditions and the North Coast's lucky escape last month from the jaws of ex-Tropical Cyclone Marcia have set up the region's macadamia orchards beautifully for the start of harvest.

Sunshine across the Northern Rivers this week saw harvesting equipment shift into top gear, with many growers expecting yields to be above average.

They have credited improved pest management practices, better-yielding varieties and a good season with what is forecast to be a national crop well above last year's.

The Australian Macadamia Society issued its first official forecast for the season yesterday, and at 43,800 tonnes in shell at 3.5 per cent moisture, it compares well to last season's final take of 32,800t.

The AMS has shifted crop reporting from 10pc moisture to 3.5pc to better align with crop trading.

AMS chief executive officer Jolyon Burnett said in-shell sales to China would likely continue to increase with total demand from China expected to rise strongly.

Marketing companies in Australia have been supplying the nuts with an innovative 'cracking' device to the Chinese market.

Most growers in the Northern Rivers, where the majority of Australia's macadamias are produced, were able to get clean-up rounds completed ahead of the deluge that arrived a little over a week ago with the cyclonic conditions just over the border.

That has meant a timely start to harvesting, which will continue until September.

Ballina region grower Col Dorey "Plantation Lorna" said quality was looking brilliant this season and what nut was already dropping was very good maturity-wise.

"We started harvesting this week and it looks like we will repeat last season's yields of 2t of kernal per hectare, which was an excellent result," he said.

"We will possibly even get those yields in the younger trees this year."