It’s been a challenging year for many across the industry. Severe weather, crop losses, lower yield and financial pressure have taken their toll — and for some, the impacts are still ongoing.
In times like these, coming together as a community is more important than ever. That’s why this round of MacGroups offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on the season, learn from experts, share experiences, and reconnect with your local grower network. Whether you're looking for technical advice regarding emerging pests, improving spray efficiency, post-harvest management or simply a want to connect with others who understand what you’re facing, MacGroups are here to support you.
We’ve brought together a strong line-up of industry specialists to provide practical, timely insights — from managing emerging pests to improving spray efficiency and planning post-harvest management. Whether you're looking for technical advice or simply a space to connect with others who understand what you’re facing, MacGroups are here to support you.
📌 Session Highlights
🔍 Broad Mite: A hidden driver of crop loss in 2025?
Recent findings show this tiny pest may have caused more damage than expected — especially to flowers and early nut development. Learn to spot the signs, tell broad mite apart from other pests, and take early action to prevent losses next season.
Presented by Chris Fuller (Nutworks) & Jeremy Bright (NSW DPIRD)
🤖 Orchard automation & technology demonstrations
Catch up on the latest time-saving tools and tech transforming orchard operations. See innovations in action and discover practical ideas you can use on-farm.
🚜 Spray calibration & coverage made simple
Spray with confidence next season. Dr. Theunis Smit breaks down the science of calibration into a practical, easy-to-understand session, covering:
- Tree Row Volume (TRV)
- Dilute vs. concentrate spraying
- Spray displacement
- Simple tests for air distribution
Presented by Dr. Theunis Smit (Omen Ag)
🗣️ Panel discussion: Where did the yield go?
Join a panel of regional pest scouts, consultants, and a host grower to unpack what happened this season and how to navigate the next six months. Hear about orchard priorities such as pest and disease monitoring, post- harvest and canopy management.
🔬 Research updates: Meet the scientists behind the work
During breaks, take time to chat one-on-one with researchers from UQ, Griffith, QUT, QLD DPI, and CSIRO as they present poster sessions on the latest research. Topics include:
- the macadamia breeding and rootstock program
- Pest READI and pest risk forecasting
- water modelling and efficient use, and
- nutrition retention.
This is a great opportunity to connect directly with researchers and ask questions relevant to your orchard.
🍽️ Lunch & Q&A with the AMS team
After lunch, stick around for an open Q&A with the AMS CEO, Marketing Manager and Industry Development staff. Got a question you'd like answered? Email it to: emily.grieve@macadamias.org
(Include your name, region, and question)
