LATEST ARTICLES

While the authors acknowledge there are other environmental benefits from reduced tillage systems and intercropping practices, they say greenhouse gas sequestration figures are not clear-cut. As a non-profit and politically independent organisation, agri benchmark...

While macadamia farmers in the irrigated north saved money on Eskom costs, growers in the south say heavier than usual rainfall increased disease pressure in their orchards. As rainfall in the first four months of 2025 exceeded the average annual rainfall for...

Dr Schalk Schoeman of Sonbesie Consulting offers valuable insights into the challenges and progress within South Africa’s macadamia industry. Drawing on years of field experience and research, he unpacks current pest management trends, the impact of shifting climatic...

The macadamia industry has seen its fair share of turbulence in recent months, with production volumes down in both of the world’s largest production regions, namely South African and Australia. Higher-than-expected tariffs into the United States have further muddied...

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s less-than-stellar performance at the White House earlier this year has cost South Africa’s economy dearly. By failing to persuade US President Donald Trump to exempt the country from his escalatory import tariffs, at least 22 high value...

MCT,1 a new macadamia variety, is known for its high consistent yield and high kernel recovery. These 8 year-old trees in Meadowlands, Australia have been cropping consistently since year 2. Long before macadamias became known as the "queen of nuts" on gourmet shelves...

Pictured above: Janet and Ian McConachie at the book launch late last year in Australia. While most Australians think macadamias originated in Hawaii, the nut’s most ardent admirer and advocate, Ian McConachie, has authored a detailed and extensive history aimed at...

Pictured Above: Delegates to the 2025 International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) visited the Nuevos Cultivos Agrarios pistachio orchards near Mallorca. (Of interest is the lack of cover crops between the growing trees. Ed) After attending the 2025 International...

Pictured Above: An adult African Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepsis) captured in the light of Chris James’s mobile phone. Scores of juvenile chameleons are being moved to safety by a Limpopo macadamia and avocado farmer, who first noticed them while out...

South Africa’s macadamia farmers, some of whom were deep in debt after a phase of exponential orchard development since 2015, are seeing the light as prices improve by 37%  and nut demand is on the up worldwide. High tonnages of carryover stocks since the 2022 price...

Increasing earthworm microbial activity in the soil has the potential to position South Africa’s macadamia farmers as consistent producers of premium outsized nuts able to reach top prices on world markets. Justice Malanot, who heads up the Bigger Nut Consortium,...

“Every single farm worker in this province is a fire-fighter. That means training on how to fight a fire and the supply of proper personal protection equipment is vital on all of our farms, particularly sugarcane farms.” Terry Tedder KZN FPA OPCO Chairman With vast...

Pictured Above: Lehanna Louw, who is in charge of media and marketing at The Nut Machine Company shop in the centre of Oudtshoorn, with some of the delicious macadamia goodies on sale. “I am a go-getter. My aim is to be on top of everything and one step ahead.” -...

Pictured Above: Discussing markets at the recent SAMAC industry day are, from left, Shane Hartman, CEO of Global Macadamias; Mike Benjamin, CEO of Golden Macadamias; PJ Venter, Director of Mayo Macs; Jillian Laing, CEO of the World Macadamia Organisation; Alex Whyte,...

As 2024 draws to a close we reflect on what has been a difficult year. The knock-on effect of the 2022 macadamia price crash on industry-wide spend forced The Macadamia to cut back on its usual four editions to just three for the year. Regardless, these editions have...

Agriculture holds a unique double opportunity to reverse adverse climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere. By adopting more sustainable farming practices, farmers can increase their profitability and significantly...

The Beaumont macadamia cultivar offers the advantage of high yields during "on" years. However, it does have some limitations, such as lower kernel recovery and generally lower prices compared to cultivars like 816 and A4. Additionally, in "off" years, the decline in...

Pictured above:Scouting is an important tool in biological controls in the macadamia orchard, helping farmers to better understand pest behaviour. Thanks to more sustainable solutions for pest control, an improved regulatory environment and a growing body of...

Although phosphorous acids/phosphites (H3PO3) are registered in South Africa for the control of Phytophthora nicotianae and Phytophthora citrophthora in citrus, and Phytophthora. Cinnamomi in avocado crops, the compound is not approved for use in macadamia orchards....

South Africa’s macadamia processors are driving growth while farmers deliver a lower-than-expected harvest on the back of extreme heat during peak flowering in 2023. The industry’s representative body, SAMAC, has released its latest crop estimates which represent a...

It’s anecdotal, I know. But sometimes a story can help paint truth in such a way it makes it easier for us to see it and therefore to believe it. Long-standing SA Canegrowers board member Dave Littley and the head of Technology and Innovation at the organisation, Andy...

Mpumalanga macadamia farmer Cobus Kok has launched a Macadamia Services Management (MSM) platform that he says will revolutionise the nut trade by providing real-time and accurate data for improved marketing and sales decisions by registered users. The platform is...