Macadamia’s cracker forecast

As harvesting across the Northern Rivers - where the majority of Australia's macadamias are grown - kicks into top gear and processors begin cracking, most farms are predicting a higher sound kernel recovery and better quality.

Industry modelling estimates are for a crop of 40,000 tonnes of nut-in-shell (NIS) - 11,440t kernel equivalent - which would be up on the 35,200t NIS produced last year and see production return to long-term forecast levels.

Australian Macadamia Society chief executive Jolyon Burnett said the more typical growing conditions pointed to most macadamia regions having a crop up five to 10 per cent on 2013.

"We had a mild, dry flowering period last spring which was exactly what was needed and, by-and-large, the lack of rain during summer has not affected the crop negatively," he said.

"It is likely the consequences of the dry will be felt next season."

With some growers now on their second harvest round, conditions for picking up nuts have been excellent, unlike the endless run of wet days that played havoc with orchard floors and severely interrupted last season's macadamia harvest.

Prospects of a good crop come at a time when global demand for the luxury nut is very strong and near-record prices of more than $3 a kilogram for NIS were paid to NSW producers last season.

Mr Burnett said the trend toward increased shipments of in-shell product to China was likely to continue this year, following the sale of about 5000t to that market last year.

For Lismore district growers Shaun and Anne Stead, whose 2500 tree orchard, "Treetops", at Jiggi, is shaping up to produce a solid 15kg/tree average this season, the ongoing international demand has provided strong optimism for the future.

The couple has just finished an extensive planting program, where 400 young A38 variety trees replaced other varieties.

Despite the fact it will be five years before the new trees produce a crop, Mr Stead believes investing in a variety that yields higher and better suits his drier, hotter climate will pay in the long-term.

This program will increase the number of A38 trees in the orchard to 50pc.

"Some years we have averaged 20kg from A38 trees at just seven years of age," he said.

"We're happy to invest in planting more profitable varieties because we have faith demand for our product is only going to increase long-term."