growers gear up for a big year Wed Feb 17, 2016

Australian macadamia growers gear up for a big year Wed Feb 17, 2016 Australian macadamia growers will take time  out from their busy harvest preparations this  week to attend important industry ‘MacGroup’  workshops up and down the east coast of Australia. More than 150 Northern Rivers macadamia growers are expected to attend the two Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) events at Wollongbar DPI (Thursday 18 Feb and Saturday 20 February) where they will hear from industry experts on a variety of key topics and see the results of the industry’s world-leading 20-year breeding program. Topics include: Australian macadamia industry breeding program results unveiled - growers will view and assess the best performing selections from the industry’s world-leading breeding program at the NSW DPI Centre for Tropical Horticulture. The latest tree selections will be released in 2017-18, the culmination of over 20 years of dedicated research*. Protecting and maintaining market stability for the Australian macadamia industry (Lynne Ziehlke, AMS Market Development Manager) Internal financial risk management for your business (AMS Productivity Development Officer Robbie Commens) Update on the outlook for the global macadamia market in 2016, with a particular focus on China (Stahmann Farms’ Richard Genest) Australian Macadamia Society’s Productivity Development Officer Robbie Commens said the Australian macadamia industry leads the world in the production of premium macadamia kernel and events like these are crucial in helping Australian macadamia growers to stay at the forefront of the global industry and keep up with growing global demand. “Coming off a really good season last year, the mood in our industry is one of optimism, and growers are keen to learn about how they can better manage their business and take advantage of new opportunities,” said Robbie. “Early indications for this season are promising, and the AMS will do whatever we can to assist growers to maximise their full potential.”  There will be two workshops in the Northern Rivers to cater to the large number of growers across the region, the largest producing region in Australia (producing around 48% of the Australian crop).  The MacGroups will take place in Nambucca, the Northern Rivers, Glass House Mountains, Gympie and Bundaberg.  They are jointly funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia and the Australian Macadamia Society, and sponsored by Stahmann Farms Enterprises.  *The farm walks are being held at the regional variety trial sites in Bundaberg and Alstonville. The trials are part of the Macadamia Regional Variety Trials project which is led by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries with support from Hort Innovation, the Australian Macadamia Society and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. Date: 18 February 2016 Time: 9am - 12pm, Free BBQ lunch 12pm - 12.30pm, Farm Walk from 1pm  Location: Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar (followed by NSW DPI Centre for Tropical Horticulture at 494 Bruxner Highway at 1pm) Date: 20 February 2016 Time: 9am - 12pm, Free BBQ lunch 12pm - 12.30pm, Farm Walk from 1pm Location: Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar (followed by NSW DPI Centre for Tropical Horticulture at 494 Bruxner Highway at 1pm) Growers wishing to attend the workshops, should phone the AMS on +61 2 6622 4933 to register. For more information: Nyree Epplett Australian Macadamia Society Tel: +61 2 6622 4933 Mob: + 61 434 261 070  Fax: +61 2 6622 4932 nyree.epplett@macadamias.org www.australian-macadamias.org Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/