SEASON 2021 - SPRING UPDATE

UPDATE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
Thanks to those shareholders who were able to make it to the recent AGM and General Meeting, there was some good interaction with lots of questions which is always welcome.  Given the continuing Covid-19 situation it is understandable that many growers were unable to attend so I want to give a summary of the major points which were raised.
  • A net profit of $665,505 for 2020
  • We have changed our finical year to run from April 1 to March 31 to capture NIS purchase and Kernel sales in the same period
  • Volume expected from the 2021 crop is up and deliveries are in excess of 6,000t of SGM product, up from 3,800 in 2020.  While we are not yet at full capacity, this increase in volume is a step in the right direction as we move away from the contract cracking business and seek to continue to improve factory efficiencies.
  • Market share of the total Australian crop bought by SGM has jumped from 8% to 12%
  • Recently upgraded value adding operations are commissioned and now operational
  • Assay turn around timed for this season have been generally within expectations
  • We have 29 new suppliers for 2021
  • Harvest for 2021 was very fast and the intake was much more condensed than expected, off site storage has been used

We expect to be processing the crop right up to the end of the year and are running with two shifts and employing more people to achieve this. As explained by Brian Loader at the AGM, there are some challenges regards to the kernel market but we are doing our best to mitigate these through various methods such as increasing the volume of NIS sold and increasing our roasting and dicing sales.

With harvest wrapping up in most regions I would like to thank everyone for their support and patience through the season. We have seen a rapid growth in our intake volumes and number of suppliers which has been very welcomed while also posing some challenges and I would like to thank the team at Suncoast Gold for managing this professionally.

Ben Adams,
General Manager
MARKET UPDATE FROM GREEN AND GOLD
Brian Loader, CEO of Green and Gold Macadamias was available at the recent AGM/GM to provide a market update to growers.  Brian expressed frustration at shipping delays, which are beyond everyone's control, and are preventing orders being filled on time.  There has been a recovery of the market for diced product which had been hard hit by Covid-19 in 2020 as manufacturers reduced orders.  There has been positive signs from the manufacturing sector, and hence increased demand for diced product, and prices for diced grades are steady.   
Sales for snack nuts have been trending upwards and have recovered to pre-Covid levels globally, although less so in the USA.  Market inventory is high on some styles, including halves, and more research, development and innovation will be required to ensure new uses can be developed to ease stock build up in this area, especially as the size of the crop increases. 
The Chinese market continues to grow at a rapid rate and new e-commerce platform, PDD, is focused on online trade of agricultural commodities to the emerging 2nd and 3rd tier Chinese cities and is opening up the market for macadamia products even further than previous platforms. 
Brian warned that the industry needs to be careful to maintain diverse market opportunities and continue to invest in innovation, market development and our understanding of the health benefits of Macadamias.
The team at Green and Gold have been working very hard to continue customer relationships and having the team on the ground in all corners of the globe including China, Singapore, Africa and Latin America, has put Green and Gold's marketing campaign a step ahead in the current global environment.  
"The things that set Suncoast Gold apart in this market are its spirit of innovation, and the capacity and reputation for delivering quality steamed and diced product"
Brian Loader, Green and Gold Macadamias.
We are still taking deliveries of NIS from final harvest rounds
BOOKINGS
can be made by phone to Todd Bryant 0427 646 939
or EMAIL bookings to nis.deliveries@suncoastgold.com.au
WELCOMING NEW BOARD MEMBER, CLIFF DAVIS
I would like to welcome Cliff Davis to the position of  Director on the Board of Suncoast Gold Macadamias following his election at the July 2021 Annual General Meeting. 

Cliff has been growing macadamias in the Glasshouse Mountains area since 1987 and has been a loyal supplier and shareholder of SGM from 1992.
We are fortunate to have a good spread of representation across a number professional fields on the Board of Suncoast Gold Macadamias and look forward to Cliff's contribution to the Board after many years as a macadamia grower and delegate to the Queensland Chicken Growers Association (QCGA).
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing  Director Peter Boyle for his support and contribution over the last 6 years of service to the company. Peter has been a reliable and dedicated Director for Suncoast Gold Macadamias.
Geoff Chivers,
Chairman of the Board, Suncoast Gold Macadamias
NUTRITION - FLOWERING & NUT SET   We have reached one of the most crucial stages in the trees’ phenological cycle, flowering. It is at this stage that it is of utmost importance for the tree to have luxury levels of essential nutrients. Bundaberg Grower Services Officer, Paul Hibbert shares key insights on the stages, timing and essential nutrients required to optimise your nutrition program and get the most out of flowering and nut set  READ MORE
PEST AND DISEASE WATCH  Flower Caterpillar numbers have been high in many regions.  This pest has the potential to significantly impact flowering and yet can be easily controlled with well timed, low-toxicity sprays (such as methoxyfenozide).   As trees progress into full flowering, increase irrigation if possible and continue to monitor for flower caterpillar, lacebug, thrips and flower blights. If monitoring shows elevated pest or disease levels, check with your consultant on the threshold and control options.  
Avoid spraying any chemicals that are toxic to bees during flowering and try to minimise dust in the orchard.  As the pests, conditions and the availability of chemicals controls change, crop protection is becoming more complex.   Our team are available to help growers continue to improve on existing pest and disease control programs.   Contact Megan Boote on 0484 099 462
NEW PLANT PROTECTION GUIDE  NSW DPI has released the newest edition of their indispensable guide to growing macadamia in Australia.  This 7th edition of the NSW Macadamia plant protection guide aims to provide commercial macadamia growers with up-to-date information on all aspects of protecting your orchard from pests and diseases.  Get your copy from the Suncoast Gold Grower Services Team or DOWNLOAD NOW
HAVE YOUR SAY ON UPDATED GROWING GUIDE
NSW DPI has been commissioned by Horticulture innovation Australia to update the enormously popular “Macadamia Growers guide” published in 2004 by the Qld DPI with the relevant innovations and knowledge generated over the last 15 years relevant to each of the individual growing regions. A critical first step as we journey down the path of delivery, is understanding how you, the industry, prefer to get your information.  This 8 minute survey will assist NSW DPI in understanding what it is you would like to see from this project.  
START SURVEY
CHEMICAL USER ACCREDITATION   Be sure to check that your Chemical User Permit is up to date and do a refresher course if necessary.  
COUNTRY CO TRAINING - Gympie 15 Sept 2021 and other locations available email admin@countryco.com.au 
DUFF CONSULTING - Nambour 3 Sept 2021  to book go to www.duffconsulting.com.au 
Those impacted by Lockdowns can access full and update courses online through www.chemcert.com.au and other providers.
DONT FORGET TO CALIBRATE your sprayer too  DOWNLOAD this simple sprayer checklist to help get your  calibration done right this season.
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List yout used farm machinery on the Macadamia Farm Equipment - Buy & Sell Page.  Search "Macadamia farm equipment" on Facebook and join the group.   We now have over 600 macadamia growers, service providers and industry representatives on the page so items are selling fast.  If you don't have Facebook and have an item to list email megan.boote@suncoastgold.com.au or text 0484 099 462 
The Buy and Sell page can also be used as a DISCUSSION forum for anything to do with macadamia growing, harvesting and sorting equipment or farms for sale.
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This Newsletter is compiled by Megan Boote, Grower Services, Suncoast Gold Macadamias 0484 099 462 Copyright © 2021 Suncoast Gold Macadamias, All rights reserved.

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