{"id":433,"date":"2021-07-23T08:54:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T22:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cropwatchlab.com\/wordpress\/?p=433"},"modified":"2026-03-25T10:40:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T23:40:41","slug":"2021-macadamia-season-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cropwatchlab.com\/wordpress\/2021-macadamia-season-report\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 Macadamia Season Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n Season Report<\/span>\n

2021 Macadamia Season Report<\/h1>\n

Kim Jones \u00b7 Cropwatch Independent Laboratories \u00b7 July 2021<\/p>\n

The discussion and conclusions contained in this report are based on samples submitted to Cropwatch Independent Laboratory for quality analysis. Cropwatch receives samples from all districts from Rockhampton in the north to Nambucca Heads in the south, so while the data is restricted to Cropwatch intake I believe it is a good representation of the whole industry.<\/p>\n

The analysis for the 2021 season is split into regions, Central Qld (Rockhampton to Maryborough), SE Qld (Gympie and Glasshouse Mountains districts) and NSW (Northern Rivers and Nambucca Heads districts). Central Qld is dominated by irrigated farms around Bundaberg, SE Qld is a mixture of irrigated and non-irrigated farms and NSW is mainly non-irrigated. The data has been compared to the average for the same districts from last season.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n

\n
\n
\n
\n Central QLD \u2014 Season TKR<\/span>\n 38.0%<\/span>\n \u25bc down from 38.8% in 2020<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n SE QLD \u2014 Season TKR<\/span>\n 35.5%<\/span>\n \u25bc down from 37.5% in 2020<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n NSW \u2014 Season TKR<\/span>\n 35.2%<\/span>\n \u25bc down from 37.6% in 2020<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Overall 2021 seems to have been an average season in terms of kernel quality. Total kernel recovery (TKR) is slightly down compared to last season (which was above average for TKR) for all growing regions. The change in harvesting practices in the Bundaberg region, with a greater percentage of the crop being sprayed with ethrel and shaken, has brought the crop forward and changed the profile of the graph showing TKR by month. TKR generally increases as the season progresses. By bringing the harvest forward the profile of the graph changes and gives the impression that TKR is higher this season, but the average for the whole season is down from 38.8% in 2020 to 38.0% this year. TKR for both SE Qld and NSW is down this season from 37.5% to 35.5% for SE Qld and from 37.6% to 35.2% in NSW.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n

\n
\n

Total Kernel Recovery (TKR)<\/h2>\n

Figure 1 shows the TKR for each region. The change in harvesting practices in the Bundaberg region, with a greater percentage of the crop being sprayed with ethrel and shaken, has brought the crop forward and changed the profile of the graph showing TKR by month. TKR generally increases as the season progresses. By bringing the harvest forward the profile of the graph changes and gives the impression that TKR is higher this season, but the average for the whole season is down from 38.8% in 2020 to 38.0% this year.<\/p>\n\n

\n <\/span>2020<\/span>\n <\/span>2021<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

A \u2014 Central Queensland TKR (%)<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

B \u2014 SE Queensland TKR (%)<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

C \u2014 NSW TKR (%)<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
Figure 1. Total kernel recovery (TKR) for 2020 and 2021 seasons. TKR was lower for all districts in 2021 compared to the 2020 season. The results for Central Qld (A) is deceptive as the harvest has been brought forward through the use of ethrel and tree shaking. SE Qld (B) and NSW (C) both show reduced TKR in 2021 compared to 2020. The average TKR for the season is: Central Qld 38% down from 38.8% in 2020, SE Qld 35.5% down from 37.5% and NSW 35.2% down from 37.6% in 2020.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n
\n
\n

Premium Kernel (%)<\/h2>\n

While the TKR has been down slightly the % of premium kernel is higher for both Qld districts (Fig 2) due to a reduction in commercial and reject grades. The % premium kernel in NSW is down from 31.5% in 2020 to 29.9% this season, driven mainly by the lower TKR but also an increase in internal discolouration.<\/p>\n\n

\n <\/span>2020<\/span>\n <\/span>2021<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

A \u2014 Central Queensland % Premium<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

B \u2014 SE Queensland % Premium<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

C \u2014 NSW % Premium<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
Figure 2. Percent premium kernel by harvest month for 2020 and 2021 seasons. Central QLD and SE QLD both show higher levels of premium kernel this year. The % premium kernel in NSW is lower than last year. The season average % premium kernel is up by 2% for central Qld (32.6% to 34.6%) and 0.4% for SE Qld (31.6% to 32%) in 2021 and down by 1.6% from 31.5% to 29.9% in NSW.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n
\n
\n

Total Reject Kernel (%)<\/h2>\n

Total reject kernel was lower in 2021 for all districts. As usual the rejects were highest at the start of the season and decline as the season progressed. The season average for rejects are: Central Qld 1.9% (down from 2.7% in 2020), SE Qld 1.8% (down from 2.7% in 2020) and NSW 2.6% (down from 2.8% in 2020).<\/p>\n\n

\n <\/span>2020<\/span>\n <\/span>2021<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

A \u2014 Central Queensland % Total Reject<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

B \u2014 SE Queensland % Total Reject<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

C \u2014 NSW % Total Reject<\/p>\n

\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
Figure 3. Total reject kernel was lower in 2021 for all districts. As usual the rejects were highest at the start of the season and decline as the season progressed. The season average for rejects are: Central Qld 1.9% (down from 2.7% in 2020), SE Qld 1.8% (down from 2.7% in 2020) and NSW 2.6% (down from 2.8% in 2020).<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n
\n
\n

Central Queensland \u2014 Reject Breakdown<\/h2>\n

Internal discolouration in Central Qld was exceedingly high in February with some consignments of over 10% rejects due to internal discolouration. The incidence of internal discolouration from central Qld declined as the season progressed, but there was another small spike in May. The breakdown of reject kernel for Central Qld once again shows that internal discolouration (brown centres) has been the major cause for reject kernel this season. Levels were high in February but dropped off as the season progressed. The Season average across all tests was 0.9% up slightly on 2020 (0.7%). Insect damage was the second most prevalent reject category with a season average of 0.5% down from 0.7% in 2020.<\/p>\n\n

\n <\/span>Mould<\/span>\n <\/span>Shrivelled<\/span>\n <\/span>Insect<\/span>\n <\/span>Discoloured<\/span>\n <\/span>Internal Disc<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n
Figure 4. The breakdown of reject kernel for Central Qld once again shows that internal discolouration (brown centres) has been the major cause for reject kernel this season. Levels were high in February but dropped off as the season progressed. The Season average across all tests was 0.9% up slightly on 2020 (0.7%). Insect damage was the second most prevalent reject category with a season average of 0.5% down from 0.7% in 2020.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n
\n
\n

South East Queensland \u2014 Reject Breakdown<\/h2>\n

As in previous years SE Qld has the lowest occurrence of internal discolouration with a season average of 0.5% while NSW had higher levels of brown centres with a season average of 0.7%, up from 0.5% in 2020.<\/p>\n\n

\n <\/span>Mould<\/span>\n <\/span>Shrivelled<\/span>\n <\/span>Insect<\/span>\n <\/span>Discoloured<\/span>\n <\/span>Internal Disc<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n
Figure 5. Reject breakdown for SE Qld. Insect damage (0.7% season avg) followed by internal discolouration (0.5% avg) were the main causes for reject kernel in 2021.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n
\n
\n

New South Wales \u2014 Reject Breakdown<\/h2>\n

Averages only tell part of the story. In NSW some of the highest levels of internal discolouration occurred in May and June. While many farms had zero brown centres there were a significant number recording more than 3% internal discolouration in May and June. When you convert this to a kernel basis that equates to 10% of the consignment!<\/p>\n

In NSW the variety 246 has had high levels of shrivelled kernel throughout the season. One sample of 246 that was harvested and delivered at the end of June had over 3% reject shrivelled nuts and a further 6.5% commercial grade shrivelled. With a total kernel recovery of only 30% this equates to 10% of the nuts being rejected and a further 20% being down graded to commercial grade.<\/p>\n\n

\n <\/span>Disc Crest<\/span>\n <\/span>Mould<\/span>\n <\/span>Shrivelled<\/span>\n <\/span>Insect<\/span>\n <\/span>Discoloured<\/span>\n <\/span>Internal Disc<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n <\/canvas>\n <\/div>\n
Figure 6. NSW had high levels of shrivelled, insect and internal discolouration in March. Across the season insect damage at 0.9%, internal discolouration at 0.7% and shrivelled kernel at 0.6% have been the major causes for reject. Shrivelled kernel was most predominant in 246 cultivar and has persisted throughout the whole season.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n
\n
\n

Closing Remarks<\/h2>\n

Cropwatch offers an on farm consultancy to assist farmers with post harvest quality issues. If you are experiencing high levels of internal discolouration contact us<\/a> to discuss how we can help.<\/p>\n

I would like to thank those growers and processors who used our services this season and look forward to continuing the relationship for the remainder of 2021 and into the future.<\/p>\n

Regards,<\/em><\/p>\n \"Kim\n

Kim Jones
Senior Consultant, Cropwatch Independent Laboratories<\/span><\/p>\n Get In Touch<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n \n

\n
\n

Submit Your Sample This Season<\/h2>\n

Get accurate, independent kernel quality data delivered within our standard turnaround.<\/p>\n View Lab Services<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n