Macadamia growers target $2.50/kg

A SMALLER than predicted macadamia crop for the second season in a row is starting to put upward pressure on prices at long last – final processor offerings for 2009 nuts are settling towards the $2 a kilogram mark, up 15 per cent on last year.

However, deliveries with more than three per cent unsound kernel will be paid at a lower rate, and given the impact of continual rain earlier this year, many growers could well be left disappointed with their returns once quality has been assessed, industry leaders say.

With NSW harvest mostly wrapping up this week, the final tonnage is expected to be between 37,000 and 40,000 tonne of nut-in-shell, down 30pc on opening season estimates. The majority of Australia’s macadamias are grown in the north-east of NSW.

The shortage of supply, which follows a reduced 2008 crop of a similar degree, combined with depleted worldwide inventories, has set the scene for a solid hike in farmgate prices next season, meaning $2.50/kg is within reach.

“Processors are struggling to meet existing contracts and there will likely be an appetite to get in early next year with good price offers to secure supply,” said Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) chief executive, Jolyon Burnett.

After a run of seasons of poor prices, which bottomed at $1.40/kg – well below the cost of production for many NSW producers – the price rebound is a much-needed positive for Northern Rivers growers who have had to deal with storms, floods, and increased pest and disease issues this year.

The continual autumn rain and the higher incidence of husk spot contributed to the early harvest finish, with yields hit hard by the amount of nut washed away or moved to areas unviable to harvest.

Rat populations also boomed due to the wet preventing on-farm control measures, with the AMS estimating about 10 per cent of the crop had been lost to the pest.

Source : The Land – Farmonline