Nut farmers break world record
Dave and Richard Mattison have recently delivered a consignment of macadamia nuts with a sound kernel of 50.4 percent.
IT may not mean much to the layman, but Dave and Richard Mattison have recently delivered a 2.37 ton consignment of macadamia nuts with a world record-breaking sound kernel of 50.4 percent.
The nuts were from Kaiser Farm near Port Edward and they were sent to the Mayo Macs processing factory in Paddock. In macadamia farming circles this sound kernel percentage recovery rate is considered the equivalent of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile. It is believed to be the first-ever delivery of more than 50 percent sound kernel in the world.
According to a Mayo Macs chief executive PJ Venter, the sound kernel percentage is the percentage of the nuts that can be marketed as raw kernel, the edible portion of a macadamia nut. The remaining percentage is made up of nut shells and any defective or insect damaged kernel. By getting the nutrition right, controlling the insect damage and being lucky with favourable weather conditions, a farmer hopes to achieve sound kernel recovery rates in the 40 percent range, but this is the first on record for above 50 percent.
“For the past five or six years, South Africa has averaged a sound kernel recovery rate of between 27.2 and 28.5 percent across all the cultivars. Seen in this light, the Mattisons’ rate is phenomenal,” Mr Venter said.
When it comes to farming, experience helps. The Mattisons have been farming macadamias in the Port Edward area for 17 years. They have a number of other macadamia farms and these comprise the DR Mattison Farms group. They have been supplying Mayo Macs for many years and are shareholders in this macadamia processing company.
The over 50 percent sound kernel recovery was achieved on a mature orchard of cultivar ‘816’. In a normal year, this cultivar averages around 35 to 38 percent on the South Coast. The orchard is under micro-jet irrigation and the grower follows a strict fertiliser programme and pest spray programme to control stink bug and nut borer. Trees are pruned regularly to open the canopies up for light management and improved pest control.
The Mattisons make use of expert advice. The Mayo Macs extension officer for KwaZulu-Natal is Andrew Sheard and he has worked with them for seven years, providing horticultural advice. The record-breaking farmers also follow a fertiliser programme supplied by Lindsay Tredgold who is a crop nutrition consultant from Nelspruit. They receive pest control advice from Dave Jenkins from Farmers Agricare.
“Despite the severe drought affecting KwaZulu-Natal, the Mayo Macs group has seen a dramatic improvement in kernel recovery this season,” said Mr Sheard. He attributed the Mattisons’ phenomenal recovery rate to a combination of ideal temperatures, correct nutrition and irrigation management, coupled with good pest control.
According to Mr Venter, this year the South African macadamia crop is estimated to be around 46 000 tons. This translates to an estimated R2-billion. The main markets are China, Europe and the United State.
