Using LIDAR to measure the impact of tree height on yield and kernel recovery in mature macadamia orchards

As the macadamia industry has matured, a presumed relationship between tree age and declining yields has been identified as a potential threat to the industry’s future sustainability. Despite some evidence to support performance decline in older trees, there is evidence that some farms continue performing well despite tree age. There is both anecdotal evidence and logic to suggest that yield declines in older orchards may be related to tree height rather than age. Clarifying relationships between tree height and productivity could provide the quantitative information required to inform growers about the value of tree height reduction strategies in older orchards. This project aimed to source existing Light Imaging, Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) tree height data for a sample of mature macadamia orchards and relate this to annual yield and kernel recovery data sourced from the macadamia benchmarking project (MC15005). LIDAR can be used to rapidly collect detailed information on tree or canopy height. For this project, existing LIDAR data was sourced and processed by an external partner (GES Mapping) for nine orchards in the older NSW Northern Rivers macadamia growing region. This canopy height information was then related to whole-orchard yield and quality data from the project “Benchmarking the macadamia industry 2015-2018”. The project did not find clear relationships between macadamia canopy height and yield or quality, partly due to the low number of suitable orchards available for analysis. This low number was due to the spread of LIDAR mapping over many years, as well as a difference in the resolution of the benchmarking and LIDAR data sets. Also affecting the ability to identify relationships was the age of relevant LIDAR data. However clear understanding of how best to overcome these limitations was gained and practical recommendations made, including collaboration between current macadamia research projects

Macadamia industry benchmark report: 2009 to 2016 seasons, Project MC15005

The benchmarking project is supporting improved productivity and profitability within the Australian macadamia industry. The current project builds on previous benchmarking and best practice work conducted since 2001. Yield, quality and planting information has been collected annually from macadamia farms throughout Australia since 2009. This information is provided either directly by growers or by processors on their behalf. Cost of production data has also been collected annually since 2013. Each season all benchmarking participants receive a confidential, personalised report that compares their individual farm performance with the average performance of similar farms based on a range of criteria including region, locality, farm size, management structure, irrigation status and tree age. These reports highlight individual and average farm performance trends over multiple seasons. This industry report has been produced to provide growers, processors, consultants, investors and other industry stakeholders with a summary of yield, quality and cost of production trends within the Australian macadamia industry

Strategies for investment in the Australian macadamia industry: Development and evaluation of an objective investment appraisal software model

This paper describes the development and application of a dynamic financial appraisal software model, known as the Financial Planner for Macadamia. This whole farm financial model for macadamia farming integrates both the investment and financing decisions of project appraisal into a single software package. This enables the viability of potential investments to be evaluated in terms of net present value and internal rate of return, as well as the most appropriate financing options to ensure sufficient cash flows over the life of a project. Investment scenarios can also be directly compared and sensitivity analyses undertaken to provide further insights into the robustness of potential business scenarios over time. The Financial Planner for Macadamia was developed in response to the limited tools available to assist farmers, investors and financiers to make objective investment decisions in the Australian Macadamia Industry

On-farm economic analysis in the Australian macadamia industry, interim final report, MC03023

This report provides an analysis of the economics of macadamia production in Australia, through to delivery of the nuts to the processor. It provides an analysis of the costs, revenue am profitability for different orchard sizes, ages, production regions and management systems. It also provides an understanding of the economics of macadamia production over the life of the orchard

Benchmarking report: The Australian macadamia industry 2009-2014 seasons

This report summarises the findings of the latest round of on-farm benchmarking conducted as part of the MC09001 project 'Improving farm productivity and competitiveness in the Australian macadamia industry'. The benchmarking study now covers the six production seasons from 2009 to 2014. Variation in yield per hectare has a major bearing on farm profitability. The 'On-farm economic analysis in the Australian macadamia industry' project (MC03023) found a very strong correlation between farm productivity and profitability. The focus of the study has been on analysing, comparing and reporting yield and quality results. This is consistent with the key objective from the Macadamia Industry Strategic Investment Plan for 2014 to 2019 to 'sustainably increase the productivity of Australian macadamia farms'. Benchmarking was expanded in 2014 to also cover an analysis of macadamia farming costs of production. The results of the costs of production study are covered in a separate report