Events

March MacGroups: practical orchard floor and weed management ahead of harvest

• Are you confident your orchard floor will stay workable right through harvest?
• Are weeds making it harder to maintain access, control costs and pick up every nut?
• Are there better ways to manage grass and weeds in your orchard system?

Growers and industry members are invited to the AMS March MacGroups in Bundaberg and the Northern Rivers, with a practical, hands-on focus on orchard floor and weed management ahead of the 2026 harvest.

Last season highlighted just how challenging orchard access and weed control can be, not only in the lead-up to harvest, but for months afterwards. These MacGroups will focus on practical, cost-effective and safe approaches that support better harvest outcomes.

What we'll cover

• Orchard floor preparation and mowing strategies for harvest
• Weed identification and management considerations
• Best practice herbicide use - what works, timing and appropriate use
• Herbicide boom spray calibration demonstrations
• Orchard floor machinery displays - mowers, slashers, mulchers and wick wipers
• Alternative weed management approaches, including mechanical options and emerging spray technologies.

See the latest spot-spraying technology

Precision spot-spraying is gaining traction in macadamias, helping growers reduce chemical costs, improve labour efficiency and support sustainable production. These sprayers will be at both MacGroups:

AgriAutomation - EH Series with WeedIT Quadro

A fully electric precision sprayer using optical green-on-brown detection to activate individual nozzles only where weeds are present. Ready for autonomous or tractor operation.

DC Agricultural Innovations - ChemiSave on Swarm Farm

AI camera-based under-canopy weed detection that targets spray application only where live weeds are identified, mounted on a Swarm Farm autonomous platform.

Orchard floor machinery on display will include:

Bundaberg: WickWiper, Woods Slasher, Cyclone Mower, Schulte FX-318 Rotary Cutter, Seppi S9 Coupe Mulcher, Silvan trailed Herbicide sprayer

Northern Rivers: Woods Slasher, Lismore Engineering Finishing Mower, John Deere Z997R, FieldQuip Spearhead 420, Silvan trailed Herbicide sprayer

MacGroup expert speaker

We’re pleased to welcome Dr John Broster (Charles Sturt University), a leading weed science researcher with extensive experience in practical, whole-of-system weed management. John will focus on effective weed control without over-reliance on herbicides.

Dates and locations

The March MacGroups will be run in two locations only. Growers and employees from all regions are welcome to attend either event. A full round of six regional MacGroups is planned for July 2026.

Bundaberg

Tuesday 3 March 2026, 8.30am–12.30pm, finishing with lunch

Hosted by Bryce and Suzanne Flemming, 302 Ashfield Rd, Ashfield (address for parking)

Venue map here

Northern Rivers

Thursday 5 March 2026, 8.30am–12.30pm, finishing with lunch

Hosted by CL Macs, 665 Newrybar Swamp Rd, Newrybar

Venue map here

Please arrive from 7:30am for tea/coffee, registration and welcome.

Register now

Register now to secure your place and view orchard location maps (please check the map before the day to allow enough travel time and to access the correct entry point).

Bundaberg MacGroup REGISTER NOW

Registering multiple attendees?

To register multiple attendees, please email [email protected] with each attendee's name, email address, and dietary requirements.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The AMS Team

Photography and Video

By submitting an RSVP to attend this AMS MacGroup, attendees acknowledge that they may be photographed or filmed during the event. Such imagery may be used by AMS in publications and across AMS websites and communication channels (including social media), and in other relevant communications. Read the Photography Policy for Australian Macadamia Society activities and events here​.