CCC Macadamia Research Update

People in small groups of ones and twos, about 20 in total, walk from a grassy area at the foreground of the picture in to an orchard of widely spaced medium sized macadamia trees.

Farmers, agronomists, and key industry stakeholders interested in farm sustainability, social licence, profitable production, and cleaner waterways, joined us for the Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) Macadamia Research Update at the Department of Primary Industries Centre for Tropical Horticulture (CTH) in Alstonville on Friday 14 June, 2024.

Man in jacket and jeans kneels in front of a macadamia tree trunk, holding a spray can in one hand, and a tin tray in the other, beside a box of tools. A crowd of people behind him watch on.

The event included a tour of the CCC sustainability research block to demonstrate the impressive results achieved from the implementation of Integrated Orchard Management (IOM) techniques. The location of the sustainability block next door to an orchard where IOM techniques have not been applied, enabled the benefits of IOM to be highlighted on the site, as Mitchell Call from Southern Cross University, and DPI Macadamia Development Officer Jeremy Bright, discussed the CCC research that is demonstrating savings in soil, nutrients and dollars.

CCC nutrition trials at the site are also comparing an organic matter amendment treatment with both a standard chemical fertiliser treatment, as well as a combination treatment applying a mix of organic matter and chemical fertiliser. DPI Research Physiologist Suzy Rogiers and Horticultural Consultant Scott Hill explained the results so far from the trial regarding the benefits of organic amendments for orchard production, environmental sustainability, and reduced fertiliser costs.

Two middle aged men in caps smiling, with a row of macadamia trees in the background.

The day closed with a demonstration of the latest macadamia yield monitoring equipment by Tom Flanagan from the DPI Farms of the Future project. Tom also explained how soil moisture and weather monitoring technology is helping to reveal what’s happening inside the trees and in the soil beneath the orchard.

The core message of the CCC Research Update was that better orchard management saves growers money, produces more nuts, and stops expensive fertilisers from going to waste and potentially polluting coastal creeks, rivers and ocean estuaries.

For more information about CCC macadamia research, phone Jeremy Bright on: 0427 213 059, or email the CCC Research project at: ccc.info@dpi.nsw.gov.au

The CCC project is delivered through the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and is funded by the NSW Government under the Marine Estate Management Strategy. The ten-year Marine Estate Management Strategy was developed by the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority to coordinate the management of the marine estate.

A wide flat grassy strip between two rows of macadamia trees. No roots of the macadamia trees are visible, demonstrating that erosion has been successfully prevented by Integrated Orachard Management.