AU industry learning from Bundaberg’s macadamia growers
Robbie Commens, the Macadamia Industry’s Productivity Development Manager, and Nyree Epplett the industry’s Communications Manager will be talking to local growers in a bid to develop a series of best practise harvest case studies to share with Australia’s 600+ macadamia growers, along the east coast from Nambucca to Rockhampton and over in Western Australia.
Robbie and Nyree will speak to various growers about harvesting processes and efficiencies, new innovation and methods, and learn more about how local growers have overcome any new challenges this season.
"The Bundaberg region has a strong history of professional farming, with growers that are business minded, production focused and a mindset of continual improvement,” says Robbie Commens.
“As the peak industry body for the macadamia industry (AMS) we are keen to help relay these professional attributes and practices to the rest of our industry. The macadamia industry is relatively new for the region, compared to the sugar or small crop industries, with approximately 100 growers producing off approx 5,500 hectares. But it is an industry that is showing very strong growth potential. And with that growth potential we continue to attract talented and professional farming enterprises into our industry."
"Our visit to the Bundaberg region is focused on understanding and documenting the professional macadamia farming practices used here, where we will then communicate this information out to our wider industry," says Robbie.
Bundaberg is a relatively new growing region for macadamias, with the majority of planting starting around 2003 and extending through to the present day. It is now the largest crop by area in the region.
Currently the second largest macadamia producing region in Australia (producing more than 30% of Australia’s macadamias), Bundaberg is also the fastest growing region for macadamia production and at the current rate of production, is set to be the main producing region by 2018.
Bundaberg macadamia growers are hopeful of another good season, with the first industry crop forecast sitting at 46,750 tonnes in-shell, representing a 4 per cent increase in production from 2015.
For more information:
Nyree Epplett
Australian Macadamia Society
Tel: +61 (0)2 6622 4933
Email: nyree.epplett@macadamias.org
www.australian-macadamias.org