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AMS News Bulletin Summer 2025

2025 | Grieve E, Yonow T, Kriticos D, Dhakal Poudel P, Kojetin L, Hamilton-Bate C, Bright J, Weinert M, Mulo S, Topp B, Price J, de Faveri J, Haberman A, Mainali B, Revell G, Carr C, Whitten M, Davies L, Duncun A, Mobashwer A | News Bulletin

Summer 2025 articles include:
CEO’s report
Market update
Marketing news
Industry insights
Nuts for Life
AMS welcomes new market development manager
Steve McLean reflects on making the 20% count
Bruce Topp – breeding, cultivating and conserving macadamias
Meet the 2025 AMS Awards of Excellence winners
Grower of the Year (small farm) Macadamia Allsorts
Grower of the Year (large farm) CL Macs/Benworth
Masterclass gives practical learnings
Sustainability: on farm and orchard recycling growers guide to closing the loop
Macadamia nut borer
Citrus blossom bug – an emerging challenge in macadamias
Orchard assessment – the elephant in the room
Latest insights from industry benchmark data
Key insights from a decade of research in orchard intensification
Integrated rat management options in macadamias
Owls-eat-rats ecological rodent management
National breeding program delivering the next generation macadamias
DNA study reveals how macadamia trees can grow and crop faster
Towards thresholds for macadamia lace bug management
Minor use permits

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.

Macadamia industry benchmarking report 2024

2025 | QDAF | Research report/Update

The 2024 macadamia industry benchmark report is available to all growers and industry stakeholders. The report covers the 2024 season as well as long term trends since benchmarking began in 2009. Analyses include seasonal limitations, productivity, profitability, kernel recovery, factory rejects, production costs and resource inputs such as water and energy. All major production regions are represented and compared.

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?

AMS News Bulletin Spring 2025

2025 | Steinrucken T, Parry H, Whitehouse M, Yonow T, Kriticos D, Kojetin L, Bond D, Smit T, Hamilton-Bate C, Bright J, Fuller C, Price J, Themsen C, Rose T, Hayward A, Mainali B, Rizvi S, Altmann J, Malherbe S, Bond J, Gibson A, Wallace S, Islam M, Amat Gómez C, Aryal L, Cunningham S, Canon P, Hu Z, Li X, O'Brien C, Wong A, Gleeson M, Mitter N, Hill D | News Bulletin

Spring 2025 articles include:
CEO’s report
Market update
Marketing news
World Macadamia Organisation update
Industry insights
Wild Macadamia Conservation
Nuts for Life update
Vale Geoff Garratt
More floods on mid north coast affect orchards
New post-harvest facility opens in Gympie
Getting sprayer calibration and coverage right
Calibrating for precision, step by step
Coverage matters
Doing the maths: Worked examples for calibration and coverage
On-farm autonomy: Lessons from a grower’s trial
Champion of organic macadamias retires
Farming with friends: Building biodiversity through better pest management
Macadamia genetic diversity research crucial to industry
Are current macadamia production practices increasing soil acidity on kraznozems?
How prepared are you for pest and disease management on your farm?
Camera monitoring of predators in macadamia orchards
Macadamia phenology: Validating the model
Laboratory evaluation of Anastatus sp. as a biocontrol agent of BSB
Macadamia pollination: What does best practice look like?
Enhancing management of macadamia pests: Targeting of fruit and banana spotting bugs
Advances in micropropagation for clonal macadamia rootstocks
Macadamia minor use permits

Grower Guide to Sprayer Calibration

2025 | Grieve E, Kojetin L, Smit T | Fact Sheet

Correct sprayer calibration means you’re applying the right amount of product where it’s needed. This avoids waste, protects the environment, and ensures effective pest, disease, or nutrient management. Below are some fundamental formulas and guides to assist sprayer calibration.

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.

Macadamia Agrichemical Overview

2025 | Kojetin L | Fact Sheet

Choosing the right agrichemical matters for efficacy, your orchard, the environment and our markets.
This overview brings together the most up-to-date information from the Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP) and the Australian Macadamia Society’s own analysis to support informed decision-making about pest, disease, and weed control in orchards.
The tables summarise currently registered or permitted agrichemicals for use in macadamias.

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This website has been partly funded by Hort Innovation, using the macadamia research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.