The document discusses recommendations for establishing a macadamia orchard in Australia over a 20 year period. It recommends selecting a site with free draining soil that gets 1,500-2,000mm of annual rainfall to avoid irrigation. The plan is to plant trees at a spacing of 8m x 4m (312 trees/ha) and establish pollinators. Production targets of 0.5t/ha in year 5, 1.5t/ha in year 10, and 2t/ha in year 20 are set. A phased approach to canopy management and tree removal is outlined to achieve the final 14m x 8m spacing by year 20.

1. Dream team session
Warren Elvery (Australia)

2.  Free draining – Red kraznozen
 Not too sandy and not too heavy clay
 Organic mater important
 Gently undulating

3.  Rainfall of 1,500 – 2,000mm per year
 Avoid irrigation – expensive and high
maintenance
 Dry rainfall period during flowering
Rainfall
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

4.  dependant on cash flow
◦ 8m x 4m spacing = 312 trees/ha
◦ $15/tree = $4,680.00/ha
◦ 312 trees/ha over 100ha = 31,200 trees

5.  New Australian Breeding Program
Variety with -
◦ High kernel yielding variety
◦ Husk spot tolerant
◦ Open canopy
◦ Precocious
◦ Heat and cold tolerant
◦ Short drop period
 Pollinators would be planted
◦ Compatibility with new varieties
◦ (508)

6.  North South where possible
 East/west if rows can be longer= more efficient
 Planted at –
◦ 7m x 4m to maximise early yield
◦ Year 12-14 move to 7m x 8m with 50% tree removal
◦ hedge every second row then remove that hedged row
(phased row removal)
◦ Final spacing at year 20 = 14m x 8m
 Maximum length per row = 1km
◦ Consistent harvesting

7.  V drains and waterways established
 Rows would be mounded prior to planting
 Ground covers established
◦ Not specifically sweet smother
 minimal herbicide use

8.  Year 5 production target = 0.5t of SK/ha
 Year 10 production target = 1.5t of SK/ha
 Year 20 production target = 2t of SK/ha
Year trees per ha t SK/ha KR % t NIS/ha kgs/tree
5 357 0.5 40% 1.25 / ha 3.5
10 357 1.5 40% 3.75 / ha 10.5
20 89 2.0 40% 5.00 /ha 56

9. Year Canopy Management
1-3 Pruning for density
4-8 Mechanical skirt where
necessary f ff
f
l ll
9- Selective limb removal
l
u ut tt
u t
u t tt
t
12 to phase out trees s ss rr
s r
r
hh e
h e
e
r
e
rr
e
r
e
h e e
ee e
e e ee
e
a aa
a
13- 25% tree removal n nr rr
n r
n
dd o
o o
d o
r rr
oo
r
o
14 - every second tree in
d o
www
w www
w
every second row c cc
c
a aa
a
nn n
n
15- 50% tree removal oo o
o
16 - Every second tree in
pp p
p
y yy
y
every row
17- Hedge every 2nd row
20 with view of removing
that hedged row
20 Remove every second
row
Year 12 13-14 17-20 20
YearYear Year Year
15-16

10.  Encourage open canopy trees
 Plant pest tolerant varieties
 Plant trap crops

11.  Large holding of one size of land is better
than many of smaller parcels of land
 Fewer neighbours the better
 Focus on the long term returns
 Focus on sustainability