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MacAlert January 2026
2026 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Research report/Update
Key messages this month include:
Rat pressure is a compounding cost that needs a proactive approach, refreshing baits and reducing food and shelter resources.
MacTrix wasp releases to control MNB should continue into January.
The FSB/BSB risk period has not eased - most eggs are laid in November to March.
Check for spotting bug damage by sampling nuts from trees, not on the ground.
Can you tell whetherdiseased husks are husk spot or husk rot? More information in the MacAlert.
Water requirements are now at their maximum. Ensure soil moisture is being read accurately.
During preharvest clean up, ensure boomsprayers are correctly calibrated and that you understand any chemicals to be used during harvest - especially the withholding periods.
Book in firm dates for third party orchard operations, transport services and consignment deliveries. Nuts delayed in on-farm storage vessels can increase rejects if conditions aren’t ideal.
Be aware of the heat. Where possible, plan around peak hot periods, rotate jobs, and scheduling regular rest breaks in shaded or cool areas.
Watch for early signs of heat stress such as headache, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps or an unusual pulse.
The predicted short-lived La Niña has weakened. Take a look at other weather outlooks for early 2026.
MacAlert December 2025
2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Manual/guide
Key messages this month include:
Monitor for spotting bug by examining fallen nuts when young, using drop sheets when more mature.
Most FSB/BSB eggs are laid in November to March. Only monitoring until Christmas or even Australia Day is costly!
Keep monitoring for macadamia nut borer, leptocoris and other young tree pests.
Have you considered horticultural oil as a control? It’s effective but has application guidelines.
Nitrogen and potassium are particularly important at this crop stage. Monitor for deficiency/toxicity signs to assess nutrient status.
Water requirements are at a peak and will remain high through to harvest. Soil monitoring and proactive irrigation is essential.
Storm season is here. Have you prepared your orchard/farm and prepared for storm recovery?
Join the Benchmarking data collection for the 2025 season to get your farm's yield and quality report for free.
A weak La Niña is underway and projected to be short lived. Take a look at other weather outlooks for 2026.
MacAlert November 2025
2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Manual/guide
Key messages this month include:
Premature nut drop is natural and can’t be stopped in season but can be minimised.
Managing soil moisture, reducing damage from pests/diseases and to a lesser degree crop inputs are levers to manage nut shed.
A large portion of an annual potassium budget is needed for the growing crop, as well as demand for nitrogen.
Water demand in increasing. The rule of thumb with irrigation is less, more often.
Ensure any material placed on the orchard floor considers withholding periods.
Check for spotting bug damage at least weekly or even more regularly.
Monitor for macadamia nut borer eggs to help time releases of MacTrix wasps.
Overuse of the any broad-spectrum chemistry can cause further secondary pest issues.
Potential for damage increases as the storm intensity builds going into summer.
Getting spray management right is critical for productivity and global competitiveness.
The Benchmarking project team has commenced data collection for the 2024 season.
Check the weather outlook for December 2025. A weak La Niña is a possibility heading into summer.
MacAlert October 2025
2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Manual/guide
Key messages this month include:
Flowering has been widely successful
Take note for next season of flowering red flags such as hot spots of any flower pests or prevalence of any flower diseases
Control macadamia seed weevil, banana fruit caterpillar, spotting bug (FSB/BSB) and husk spot
Apply a large portion of your annual potassium budget in the three months after flowering. Calcium is also in demand for cell growth
Manures have vastly different nutrient profiles so always ask for a nutritional analysis and ask where the product has come from
During spraying season, mitigating spray drift is crucial
All staff need to have good knowledge of spray drift mitigation principles and must follow farm standard operating procedures
Recent wet periods have made it ideal to sow cover crops in the inter row or headlands
Increasing ground cover can be as simple as less mowing - allowing what is there to spread all the way to active seeding
If you haven't already done so, order MacTrix wasps for macadamia nut borer (MNB) control ASAP
Make sure all staff are ready for the upcoming fire danger seasons.
Macadamia Plant Protection Guide 2025-2026, NSW DPI Management Guide
2025 | Bright J | Manual/guide
This 11th edition of the NSW Macadamia plant protection guide aims to provide commercial macadamia growers with up-to-date information on all aspects of protecting their orchard from pests and diseases.
MacAlert September 2025
2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Manual/guide
Key messages this month include:
Monitor weekly to fortnightly for pests and diseases that affect flowers.
In NSW & SE QLD lace bug risk has peaked. In QLD, flower caterpillar eggs are being found as the weather warms.
Be aware of withholding periods. Zero withholding doesn't mean it’s safe to contact nuts.
Managed and wild pollinators are everywhere, so give careful thought to orchard activities/inputs.
Water demand is increasing, so have moisture monitoring and retention strategies in place.
Nutlets have a high demand for nutrients like potassium.
Take advantage of spring and seed some ground cover.
You need to be ready for husk spot and macadamia seed weevil control when nutlets are match-head size.
Late fruit spotting bug damage was again a large quality defect last season. Be prepared to manage this pests into January/February.
Have you ordered your MacTrix wasps?
MacAlert August 2025
2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Manual/guide
Key messages this month include:
Lace bug can multiply rapidly so be vigilant.
Diazinon is no longer permitted after August 2025.
In northern regions, look out for flower caterpillar.
Discuss the disruption of chemical options with your pest consultant as harsher controls can cause secondary pests to flourish.
Timing of flower blight control is crucial as most options are protectant with limited curative action and don't work well once infection has already developed.
Just because a product is registered in Australia, does not mean you can use it safely. Read the Agrichemical Overview for available options and their key considerations for use.
As the weather warms, nutrition and water requirements increase. Check your boron levels before flowering and calcium for nut development.
Conduct a thorough audit of what needs to be repaired - harvesters, dehuskers and shed equipment for next season.
Flag mistletoe locations as many mistletoe species are flowering. Removal needs to be thorough, regular and coordinated.
Make plans for managed pollinators.
Winter is the time to prepare for fire risk season.
Shortly after flowering, husk spot control is important if your orchard has a history of the disease, stick tights and/or susceptible cultivars.
MacAlert July 2025
2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Manual/guide
Key messages this month include:
Talk to your pest consultant about critical crop monitoring for flower diseases, pests like lace bug, and generally what is in the out-of-season flowers
Monitoring is about looking for the elements that enable production as well as crop protection
Find an overview of flower blights (grey, green mould, dry flower disease) and control options
Have you arranged post-harvest amendments and any top up nutrition before flowering such as compost, lime/gypsum or boron?
Now is the time to ensure sprayers are calibrated correctly and ready for the months ahead
Understanding tree row volume, dilute spray litreage, fan output, operating pressure, air displacement and travel speed are essential to get a good result
It's not the time to let up on rat management either in the orchard or the shed, it's a 365 day job
Make arrangements with your beekeeper for pollination services
Follow the RSVP link to join one of the MacGroups later in the month
Look at what the weather has in store during the months ahead
MacAlert June 2025
2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Manual/guide
Key messages this month include:
Start the discussion with your pest consultant about the season ahead.
Following autumn assessments, there is time to adjust nutrition before flowering.
Boron is required for healthy flower and nut development.
If you don't have sufficient ground cover, mulch is important for soil and orchard condition.
Frost is a major risk in some areas. Keep up to date with BOM frost potential maps.
If you are behind on harvesting, consider disengaging any onboard dehuskers if you have shed options.
When profiling, take care not to bring deeper clay layers or at risk soils to the surface.
Complete all the checks to be 'spray ready'.
Check staff have valid chemical application certifications and develop a farm pesticide management plan.
Contact a beekeeper to bring managed hives to the orchard.
Save the dates of July MacGroups.
MacAlert May 2025
2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L | Manual/guide
Key messages this month include:
After months of above average rainfall, assess Phytophthora levels in your orchard.
Planning crop inputs for the season ahead is essential as it gives you time to complete assessments, finalise recommendations and order inputs.
Orchard nutrition is a balance of building soil fertility, replenishing nutrients, supporting tree/crop development at critical periods and managing losses, on a budget.
Cultivars have different nutrient removal rates. Returning husk to the orchard is one of the most cost effective ways to replace nutrients.
Macadamias are not tolerant to frost; apply frost protectants if required.
Continue to audit harvest efficiency.
Removing the heat and moisture from respiration is essential to maintaining kernel quality.
Ensure conditions have been dry for at least 3 days prior to tree shaking to limit bark damage.
Spray Coverage & Calibration Workshop will run in June, covering the fundamentals of spray coverage and how you can get the best protection for your crop.
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