THE almond harvest is under way despite the rains across the Loddon Mallee early last week, with yields expected to match the 2024 season.
Annuello Almond Orchard farmer Pieter Van Zyl said their orchard missed most of the rain, only getting about one or two millilitres.
“That’s nothing to stop us, so if we don’t get any more rain our harvest should be done by the end of March,” he said.
“We have completed about 20 per cent of the orchards so far after only starting two weeks ago, and we’re not up to speed yet.
“So far, so good.”
Australian Farming Services Canally and Augusta orchards on either side of the river near Tooleybuc also missed much of the rain.
Canally Orchard manager Paul Forster said rain this early in the harvest should not have a massive effect on quality.
“A lot of farmers were probably starting to shake trees and there wouldn’t have been as much product on the ground,” he said.
“It’s not ideal, but at this point in the season it shouldn’t do too much harm and overall, we’re not in a bad position.
“We’ll be sending almonds into Murray Downs for processing very soon.”
Almond crops rely on a dry harvest season, as moisture and humidity breed mould, insects and disease in the ripe produce and cause damage.
According to Agriculture Victoria in 2018, the Mallee accounts for 99.6 per cent of Victoria’s almond production, as part of the Mallee $510.2 million nut industry.
