Macadamia industry interim benchmark report

Transcription

1 Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Macadamia industry interim benchmark report 2009 to 2016 seasons Benchmarking the macadamia industry Project MC15005

2 02/17 State of Queensland, The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence, visit

3 Acknowledgements This report has been produced as part of the Benchmarking the macadamia industry project (MC15005). This is a joint initiative of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the University of Southern Queensland and NSW Department of Primary Industries, with support from the Australian Macadamia Society. The project has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the macadamia levy and funds from the Australian Government. The Queensland Government has also co-funded the project through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Disclaimer Results presented in this report are based on data provided by industry participants. To ensure the confidentiality of individual farm data this report includes group averages only. Figures presented are based on summary statistics using underlying data that is not included in this report. The project partners associated with the MC15005 project and this report include the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited, University of Southern Queensland and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. While every care has been taken to ensure the validity of information collected and analyses produced, none of these project partners, nor any persons acting on their behalf, make any promise, representation, warranty or undertaking in relation to the appropriateness of findings in this report and expressly disclaim all warranties (to the extent permitted by law) about the accuracy, completeness, or currency of information in this report. Users of this report should seek independent advice to confirm any information in this report before relying on that information in any way. Reliance on any information provided within this report or by any of the project partners is entirely at your own risk. The project partners will not be responsible for, and will not be liable for, any loss, damage, claim, expense, cost (including legal costs) or other liability arising in any way (including from the project partners or any other person s negligence or otherwise) from your use or non-use of the report or from reliance on information contained in the report or that the project partners provide to you by any other means. 1

4 About the benchmarking project Yield, quality and planting information has been collected annually from macadamia farms throughout Australia since These data are provided either directly by growers or by processors on their behalf. Each season benchmarking participants receive a personalised report that confidentially compares their individual farm performance with the average performance of similar farms based on a range of criteria including region, locality, farm size, management structure, irrigation status and tree age. These reports also highlight individual and average farm performance trends over multiple seasons. Industry reports such as this one are produced to provide growers, consultants, investors and other stakeholders with a summary of emerging yield and quality trends across industry. Interim report scope and coverage A total of 269 macadamia farms participated in benchmarking following the 2015 season, which accounted for 57.6% of the industry s production and planted area that year. They also represented a cross section of farms for location, farm size, tree age and management structure during that season. A similar number of farms is expected to participate following the 2016 season. This interim report on the 2016 season is based on data provided from 140 farms up to December 20, All major production regions are represented in the interim sample, as shown in Figure 1. Data from the Mid North Coast region of NSW has been merged with Northern Rivers in some sections of this report due to limited data availability. Farms in the interim sample total approximately 3,214 hectares and account for almost 18% of current total industry production. This proportion is based on the industry estimate of 52,000 tonnes of nut-in-shell at 10% moisture content (AMS, December 7, 2016). Although smaller farms are more strongly represented in the interim sample its size and composition are sufficient to provide a good cross section of farms by farm size and tree age. Central Queensland (CQ) South East Queensland (SEQ) Northern Rivers of New South Wales (NRNSW) Mid North Coast of New South Wales (MNNSW) Figure 1: Regions covered by the interim report Figure 2: Summary of 2016 interim benchmark sample 2

5 What you need to know about the data The following rules have been applied to information presented in this interim report: Any results shown for the 2016 season are based on the interim sample of 140 farms. Where trends are shown over multiple seasons, results prior to 2016 are based on the full benchmark sample in each of those years. Data from farms in the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales have been combined into NSW averages within this report. This is due to the limited data available for the Mid North Coast region at the time the report was produced. Data from these two regions will be presented separately in the final industry report for the 2016 season. Averages presented for any given season are based on data from a minimum of ten farms. This minimum is applied to safeguard the confidentiality of individual farm data. Average farm performance over multiple seasons is derived only from farms that have provided data for a minimum of four seasons. This is to minimise the impact of seasonal variability on long-term averages. All weights presented are based on the industry-standard moisture content of 10% for nut-in-shell and 1.5% for kernel. The sum of reject kernel category values presented relate to the total reject kernel recovery percentage, rather than totalling 100%. This standard is applied across the benchmark study to ensure uniformity. Although some farms may harvest small amounts of nuts from young trees we typically exclude plantings less than five years of age from estimates of bearing hectares. This is important for consistency across the benchmark sample. While we try to use well recognised terms to describe kernel recovery and reject analysis categories, processors may sometimes use different terminology to describe similar reject categories. Unless otherwise stated, all averages presented are unweighted. This means that all farms in the sample exert an equal influence on the average regardless of their size. What is included in this report? This report summarises macadamia farm yield and quality results for the 2009 to 2016 production seasons. Many of the yield benchmarks presented are based on tonnes of saleable kernel per bearing hectare as this is a widely accepted measure of orchard productivity. Results are divided into the following sections: Findings from Benchmark Group meetings The most recent Benchmark Group meetings were held in all major production regions in August and September This section includes a preliminary summary of findings and feedback from those meetings. Seasonal yield and quality trends This section presents emerging yield and quality results for the whole benchmark sample for the 2016 season. It also compares these results with findings from the previous seven seasons. Regional yield and quality trends Analysis of regional data provides insight into typical farm sizes and tree ages in each of the major production regions. It also identifies seasonal differences in yield and quality between each of those regions. 3

6 Findings from Benchmark Group meetings A total of 81 participants attended Benchmark Group meetings in August and September These participants represented 131 farms from each of the major production regions. Topics discussed included yield, quality, pests and diseases and canopy management. Participants were also asked a range of questions relating to the 2016 season and their approach to farm management. This section includes a preliminary summary of the responses. Data from the meetings will also be analysed in conjunction with yield and quality results to identify potential linkages between specific orchard management scenarios and high orchard productivity. These findings will be reported as they become available. Key findings from the benchmark meetings included: Over 50% of participants reported an increase in yield between 2015 and 2016 with 28% indicating an increase of over 20%. The majority of farms reporting increased yield in 2016 were in Queensland. The most significant factors limiting production in 2016 included wet weather at flowering, insect pests and lack of water availability at key times. Wet weather at flowering mostly affected NSW farms while lack of water availability predominantly affected South East Queensland farms. Insect damage was the major cause of kernel reject losses in each region. Fruit spotting bug was reported as the major cause of factory reject kernel. Husk diseases caused negligible losses in most regions. Losses due to rat damage were reported in all regions with over 20% of participants experiencing significant losses in the 2016 season. Figure 3: Factors limiting production in

7 Growers were also asked to describe the predominant canopy stage of their orchard according to the Macadamia Integrated Orchard Management Guide. Most growers indicated that their tree canopies were either stage two (36%) or stage three (56%). A small number of stage four orchards were also identified within the Northern Rivers region of NSW. The main form of canopy management reported over the last three years was a combination of light hedging (35%) and limb removal (31%). Other forms of canopy management included heavy hedging (8%), row removal (6%) and within-row tree removal (3%). More than 11% of participants indicated that they have not undertaken any form of canopy management during the last three years. More than 46% of participants nominated limb removal as their primary canopy management method over the next three years. More than 25% indicated that they will be undertaking light hedging in the next three years. The maximum tree height reported varied significantly between participating farms. The most common maximum tree height was 7-9 metres (41%) followed by 9-12 metres (28%) and 5-7 metres (18%). Almost 9% of respondents reported a maximum tree height of more than 12 metres. These farms were located in South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers region of NSW. More than 25% of benchmark group participants indicated that they were unhappy with spray coverage in their tallest trees. Stage 2 Peak production Tree height is less than, or equal to, row width Nuts grow throughout the canopy Stage 3 Declining production Tree height is greater than, or equal to, row width Nuts grow mostly at the top of the canopy Source: Macadamia Integrated Orchard Management Guide

8 Seasonal trends This section includes seasonal trends in orchard productivity and quality. This provides insight into long-term productivity, quality and seasonal variability within the benchmark sample. Some trends provide averages for the whole benchmark sample while others also provide averages for the top and bottom 25% of that sample. Figure 4 shows the average nut-in-shell (NIS) and saleable kernel yield per bearing hectare and reject trends from 2009 to Results from 2009 to 2015 are based on averages of the full benchmark sample in those years whereas the 2016 average is based on the interim sample of 140 farms. Average factory rejects due to insect damage increased in Insect damage accounted for the highest average percentage of factory rejects in each of the major production regions in both 2015 and Average rejects due to immaturity were also higher within the interim sample in 2016 compared with those for the whole benchmark sample in Average levels of mould and brown centres were lower than those for the previous season. Productivity increases from 2013 to 2015 continued in the 2016 season. In 2016 average NIS and saleable kernel yields for the interim sample reached the highest level so far seen since benchmarking began in Figure 4: Annual average yield and reject trends (whole benchmark sample , interim sample 2016) 6

9 Figure 5 shows seasonal trends in average saleable kernel production per bearing hectare for the top 25%, bottom 25% and all farms in the whole benchmark sample (2009 to 2015) and the interim sample (2016). Averages for the top 25% continued to increase in Average saleable kernel production for all farms in the interim sample was also higher in 2016 than the benchmark sample average in previous years, reaching its highest level since benchmarking began in Figure 5: Average saleable kernel production per bearing hectare (whole benchmark sample , interim sample 2016) Figure 6 shows seasonal trends in average saleable kernel recovery for the top 25%, bottom 25% and all farms in the whole benchmark sample ( ) and the interim sample (2016). In 2016 average saleable kernel recovery increased slightly for all farms in the interim sample and also for the top 25%. This was still slightly lower than the peak saleable kernel recovery levels achieved in 2010 and A slight decrease was observed in 2016 among the bottom 25% of the sample. Figure 6: Average saleable kernel recovery (whole benchmark sample , interim sample 2016) 7

10 Figure 7 shows seasonal trends in average reject kernel recovery. These include the top 25%, bottom 25% and all farms in the whole benchmark sample ( ) and the interim sample (2016). Average reject kernel recovery increased slightly in 2016, particularly in the bottom 25% of the interim sample, following low reject levels in Figure 7: Average reject kernel recovery by season (whole benchmark sample , interim sample 2016) In 2016 average reject percentages due to insect damage reached their highest level since benchmarking began in Benchmark group members nominated Fruitspotting bug as the major cause of their insect damage. 8

11 Regional trends This section provides analyses similar to those in the previous seasonal trends section for each of the major production regions in Australia. These provide insight into long-term productivity, quality and seasonal variability within each region. Figure 8 shows information about the farms in the interim benchmark sample in the 2016 season from each of the major production regions. This includes the number of participating farms and average farm size, tree age and productivity. Data from the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales have been combined in this report due to limited available data from the Mid North Coast region when this report was produced. Figure 8: Participating farms by region in the 2016 season interim sample 9

12 Figure 9 shows the average nut-in-shell (NIS) yield, saleable kernel yield and reject trends for the Central Queensland region for the whole benchmark sample (2009 to 2015) and the interim sample (2016). Both average NIS and saleable kernel yield per bearing hectare continued to increase in Average brown centres reject levels decreased from 2015 to 2016 to reach their lowest levels since benchmarking began in Although average rejects due to insect damage decreased in 2016, insect damage still represented the highest percentage of reject kernel for Central Queensland in the interim sample in Figure 9: Average yield and reject trends for Central Queensland (whole benchmark sample , interim sample 2016) The average tree age of Central Queensland farms in the interim sample is 14 years. Trees in this region are on average significantly younger than those in the South East Queensland (20 years) and New South Wales (21 years) regions. 10

13 Figure 10 shows the average nut-in-shell (NIS) yield, saleable kernel yield and reject trends for the South East Queensland region for the whole benchmark sample (2009 to 2015) and the interim sample (2016). Both average NIS and saleable kernel yield per bearing hectare in SEQ continued to increase in 2016 following similar annual increases in 2014 and Average 2016 yields for the SEQ interim sample were the highest since benchmarking began in Average rejects due to immaturity increased in 2016 following very low average levels in Insect damage rejects increased for the second year in a row and represented the highest percentage of reject kernel. Figure 10: Average yield and reject trends for SE Queensland (whole benchmark sample , interim sample 2016) Immaturity was a major cause of reject kernel in South East Queensland in 2013 and More than 30% of all South East Queensland Benchmark Group participants indicated that a lack of water availability at key times was the most significant factor limiting production in

14 Figure 11 shows the average nut-in-shell (NIS) yield, saleable kernel yield and reject trends for farms in New South Wales for the whole benchmark sample (2009 to 2015) and the interim sample (2016). Average NIS and saleable kernel yield per bearing hectare in NSW decreased slightly in Average rejects due to immaturity and discolouration increased slightly in NSW in 2016 while mould and brown centres decreased. Insect damage increased again in 2016 and represented the highest percentage of reject kernel for the NSW region. Figure 11: Average yield and reject trends for New South Wales (whole benchmark sample , interim sample 2016) Insect damage has caused the highest average percentage of rejects for NSW farms in the benchmark sample for the last eight seasons. Approximately one third of all Benchmark Group participants were dissatisfied with spray coverage in their tallest trees. 12

15 Figure 12 shows regional trends in average saleable kernel production per bearing hectare for the whole benchmark sample (2009 to 2015) and the interim sample (2016). Central and South East Queensland regions showed a significant average yield increase each year from 2013 to New South Wales farms showed a reduction in yield in 2016 for the interim benchmark sample after an increase from 2013 to The combined average saleable kernel production for all regions in 2016 was 0.96 tonnes per bearing hectare, which is the highest level reached since benchmarking began in Figure 12: Regional saleable kernel production by season (whole benchmark sample , interim sample 2016) For more information If you would like more information about this report or would like to become involved in benchmarking, please contact our team. The macadamia benchmarking team Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Maroochy Research Facility Phone: (within Qld) or macman@daf.qld.gov.au Benchmark reports such as this are made possible by strong ongoing industry participation. The project team would like to acknowledge the involvement and efforts of the many growers and processors who provided data for the benchmarking project. 13