Rural News

Macadamia growers show orchard management key to resilience, sustainability

Published

1 year ago

5 August 2022

JeffG

Macadamia growers show orchard management key to resilience, sustainability.

Integrated orchard management (IOM) projects designed to get more sunlight into macadamia orchards, promote grass coverage on orchard floors, and manage water drainage are key to improving
the industry’s resilience and environmental sustainability.

“We work closely with our growers to help plan and implement IOM projects that have long-term benefits for macadamia production, profitability and environmental stewardship and sustainability,” said Mark Whitten, Marquis Macadamias Grower Liaison Officer for northern NSW.

“IOM combines three fundamental pillars of orchard management; drainage, orchard floor management and canopy management.

“Growers implement IOM to improve sustainability, control erosion, build healthy soils and canopy management to ensure adequate light levels to sustain grass cover on the orchard floor.

Improving the light environment in the orchards also makes the environment less suitable for pests and diseases.

“This system also ensures orchard resilience in the face of extreme weather events, such as during the floods that hit the Northern Rivers region in New South Wales in February and March in 2022,” he said.

Situated on the Southwestern side of Alstonville in the Northern Rivers region, Marquis Macadamias grower Robert Mosse has spent the previous decade implementing IOM in his orchards.

The program was specifically designed to widen tree spacing within his orchard to improve light penetration, grass coverage, pest management, and more efficiently control the water flowing within
the orchards by installing diversion drains.

“Long before the floods came, we removed approximately 8,000 mature trees.,” Mr Mosse said.

“In the older orchards where the spacing was 7m x 4m, we removed alternate rows, and in some cases, we removed whole blocks, even where the spacing was 8m x 4m, and replanted using much wider spacing.

“Water control was extremely effective in the blocks where tree removal and profiling within rows had been completed. There were no visible signs of erosion within any of these blocks during the recent floods, and the water leaving these blocks was clean.

“We suffered some soil erosion in blocks where the spacing is still 8m x 4m despite the construction of diversion drains.”

He said upon completion of all remedial work, the spacing across his properties will vary between 16m x 4m and 10m x 5m.

“We believe in our situation 10m x 5m is probably the optimum spacing because this will allow for easy conversion to 10m x 10m spacing in the future in the case of some of the really big varieties,” Mr Mosse said.

Mr Mosse said the remedial work undertaken though costly, had been worthwhile.

“Prior to the floods, we started to see yields increase as well as the quality of the nuts. Despite the floods and prolonged wet weather at the beginning of this season, we were able to harvest during most of the wet weather, and our crop this year will exceed last year’s crop.

“However, there is no doubt when the floods hit, we lost nuts already on the ground, especially in those blocks where remedial work has not commenced. Wind damage too was significant in our region, and we suffered a loss due to a few trees being blown down, but most of the damage was caused by heavily laden branches being torn off by the wind.”

Mr Mosse attributes the fact that his orchards suffered less flood damage to the advice given to him by Phil Zadro in Bundaberg many years ago, where they often experience very heavy rain.

“Phil said to me at the time that keeping control of water flowing within the orchards was essential. Phil was absolutely right,” he said.

Mr Whitten said following the floods, it was inspiring to see the resilience of the region and the macadamia growers.

“Growers have been helping each other where possible, with a general acceptance of the situation and an enthusiasm to get back into farming macadamias,” he said.

“Most importantly, Marquis Macadamias has maintained communication with growers, ensuring they have someone to speak with about their situation and to receive tailored advice on harvest strategies and pathways to recovery.

“We have been able to support growers impacted by floods by working with our transport providers to ensure more options are available to get their nuts to the dehusking facilities or factories, as well as extending the opening hours for receivals at our factories,” he said.

For more information on the Marquis Group, visit www.marquis.com

About the Marquis Group

The Marquis Group of companies is the world’s largest growers, processors, and marketer of macadamias, providing superior quality macadamias to food manufacturing, wholesale and retail
customers spanning across five continents.

The Marquis Group is 100% grower owned, processing over 22,000 tonnes per annum through Marquis Macadamias Australia and 18,000 tonnes per annum through Marquis Macadamias Africa.

Both regions are ramping up capacity in the coming years to a combined 96,000 tonnes.
• The production from these facilities is sold through the jointly owned company Marquis Marketing, which markets and sells over 20% of the world’s macadamia kernel.
• Marquis Macadamias Australia production: 22,000 tonnes of nut-in-shell processed, representing 43% of Australia’s macadamia production
• Marquis Macadamias Africa production: 18,000 tonnes of nut-in-shell processed
• 485+ growers
• 700+ employees
• Annual revenue of AU$292 million.

History of the Marquis Group

The Marquis Group began in 1983 when four growers established the Macadamia Processing Company (MPC) in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia, processing 53 tonnes of nut-in-shell.

In 2011 Pacific Gold Macadamias (PGM) was established in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, while Macadamia Marketing International (MMI) was formed in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia , to
market and sell the combined production of MPC and PGM.

In 2019, MPC wholly acquired PGM. In February 2020 MPC and PGM rebranded to Marquis Macadamias Australia, while MMI rebranded to Marquis Marketing.

In October 2020, South Africa’s Global Macadamias became a 50% shareholder in Marquis Marketing.

In May 2021, Global Macadamias rebranded to Marquis Macadamias Africa to align with the greater vision of the Marquis Group.

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Murray Cod Fishing Season Opens – Friday, 1 December

Published

9 hours ago

8 December 2023

Liam

Murray Cod Fishing Season Opens – Friday, 1 December

Christmas has come early for Murray Cod anglers, as the season opens on Friday 1 December 2023, following the annual three-month breeding closure.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Deputy Director General Fisheries Sean Sloan said, Murray Cod are Australia’s largest freshwater fish and an icon of our inland waterways, so there is no doubt that many anglers will be excited about the new fishing season opening this Friday.

“Now that the Murray Cod have completed their breeding over the three-month fishing closure, we’re expecting plenty of anglers to enjoy spending some time fishing for this iconic native species,” Mr Sloan said.

“Record numbers of Murray Cod produced and stocked during the 2022/23 season has helped bolster populations in NSW lakes and rivers after years of drought, bushfires and floods.

“More than 1.28 million Murray Cod were stocked into waterways across inland NSW during the 2022/23 stocking season.

“This amazing achievement by our flagship Narrandera native fish hatchery is only the beginning, with solid numbers of juvenile Murray Cod currently in the hatchery pointing to a bumper year of production and stocking set to commence for the new season from 30 November.”

With the Murray Cod season commencing this Friday, and a big summer of fishing expected, NSW DPI Fisheries Officers will be out on the water to ensure that recreational fishers adhere to the bag and size limits along with all other fishing rules that apply.

Murray Cod.

“Fisheries Officers patrolling during the annual three-month closure have said that anglers have respected the closure during this period,” Mr Sloan said.

“Now that the season is underway again for another year, we ask all fishers to continue doing the right thing to ensure we protect, conserve and improve our fisheries resources for future generations.

“A daily bag limit of two Murray Cod per person and a total possession limit of four applies when fishing in any inland waters.

“Fishers are required to release Murray Cod which are smaller than 55cm, or bigger than 75cm, with the least possible harm.

“I encourage the public to report suspected illegal fishing to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or via the online form located on NSW DPI Fisheries website here”

The NSW Recreational Fishing Freshwater Fishing Guide is available on the DPI website from NSW DPI offices and most places where NSW recreational fishing licenses are sold.

Production of native fish for stocking at the Narrandera facility is supported with funding from NSW DPI and the Recreational Fishing Trusts.

For more rural news, click here.

Local News

Future farmer wins #AgDayAU photo competition

Published

9 hours ago

8 December 2023

Liam

Future farmer wins #AgDayAU photo competition

An image capturing a determined toddler trying to help feed the rams has been awarded first prize in the 2023 National Agriculture Day photo and video competition.

Belinda Dimarzio-Bryan’s photo of her little helper caught the judges’ attention for encapsulating this year’s theme #GrowYouGoodThing.

National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said the judges had a tough job with the competition attracting almost 500 entries.

“What’s exciting about this competition is there are no rules on ages or abilities and that opens the floor to some candid and unplanned imagery.

Storm Above Harvest

“There are endless moments in farming that you simply cannot plan, like a brewing storm, an animal’s expression or the way the light hits a paddock.

“These moments are some of the reasons why farmers do what they do, we really do have the best offices in the world.”

The NFF partnered with Syngenta for the competition, with the agricultural company providing $5,000 to be shared between six winners.

Syngenta Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Paul Luxton, said the diversity in this year’s entries was outstanding, providing a snapshot into the different faces, landscapes and produce behind Australian agriculture.

Little Helper

“Without doubt, Australian farming is a special industry and imagery is one of the best ways we can share it with all Australians, so they can come on a journey with us and better understand where their food and fibre comes from.”

National Agriculture Day – or #AgDayAU – is held on the third Friday of November each year.

2023 #AgDayAU Photo & Video Competition Winners

First place: Little Helper
Photographer: Belinda Dimarzio-Bryan
Second place: Grow You Good Thing (video)
Photographer: Merri-May Gill
Runner Up: Working the Table
Photographer: Kylie Fuller
Runner Up: Storm Above, Harvest Below
Photographer: Helen Carpenter
Runner Up: Living the Dream (video)
Photographer: Holly Draffin
Runner Up: Kate Eggleton
Photographer: Generations of Growers

For more rural news, click here.

Local News

Aussie farmers don’t have to choose between growing food and hosting solar; report shows they can do both

Published

9 hours ago

8 December 2023

Liam

Australia has enormous potential for grazing sheep and growing fruits and vegetables under solar panels using agrivoltaics.

Aussie farmers don’t have to choose between growing food and hosting solar; report shows they can do both

Farm Renewables Consulting, Progressive Agriculture

A report out shows Australia has enormous potential for grazing sheep and growing fruits and vegetables under solar panels, but better planning, more research and targeted government policy is needed to make these options work for local farmers.

Agrivoltaics (also referred to as ‘agrisolar’) refers to co-locating agricultural production systems with solar development.

Co-locating our food and energy systems on developed land presents a promising pathway for farmers, solar developers and governments, provided it is well planned and executed.

The report Pursuing an Agrivoltaic future in Australia gathered insights from farmers, government representatives, consultants, researchers, and solar developers, on the challenges and opportunities of agriculture and solar developments. EnergyCo was a key partner in the delivery of two workshops contributing to the knowledge gathering process.

The authors found agrivoltaic adoption has been slow, because of knowledge gaps, technical and economic impediments, poor planning, and a lack of clear policy guidance at development stage.

Karin Stark, Director of Farm Renewables Consulting and co-author of the report said: “I found there was considerable optimism for the feasibility of agrivoltaics in Australia, but change is required to ensure future solar developments are undertaken in a way that guarantees successful outcomes.”

“International studies have highlighted several benefits associated with solar over crops, such as enhanced yields in the case of certain produce like berries, tomatoes and leafy greens.

Australia has enormous potential for grazing sheep and growing fruits and vegetables under solar panels

“Solar over vineyards has also demonstrated benefits to the sugar and alcohol content of grapes given the fruit’s sensitivity to hot weather. Overseas research has indicated advantages including increased soil moisture, reduced irrigation demands, protection from excessive heat, and safeguarding against frost and hail damage.”

Andrew Bomm, consultant with Progressive Agriculture and co-author of the report said: “Solar grazing can have clear economic benefits for both solar developers and graziers, and play an important role in achieving community support for large scale solar development in rural areas.”

“One key insight that came out loud and clear was that solar grazing systems require adequate planning and design prior to construction to avoid major problems later.”

The report underscored the need for research and demonstration sites, supportive policy, and knowledge sharing to pave the way for adoption of agrivoltaics in Australia on a significant scale.

The report’s policy recommendations include:

The Australian government provide funding to develop best practice guidelines for developers, operators, and farmers for successful agrivoltaics adoption.
The Australian government collaborate with the renewables industry to co-invest in ongoing essential research into agrivoltaics in different areas marked for solar development, and for different farming systems such as grazing, viticulture and horticulture.
The Australian government develop a coherent framework of carbon and biodiversity incentives to maximise best practice agrivoltaics adoption, across both broadacre (grazing) and horticultural systems.
There is an intergovernmental agreement between Commonwealth and State Governments to ensure consistent framework across Energy and Agricultural agencies.

The report can be found here.

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