DESPITE poor flowering in one of the major varieties, almond growers expect to harvest Australia's biggest crop this year.
Estimated at 45,400 tonnes, production will be 18.3 per cent higher than last season.
Almond Board of Australia chief executive Ross Skinner said the area of young trees reaching maturity, or bearing fruit for the first time, more than compensated for lower than expected yields from the nonpareil variety, which accounts for more than half of plantings.
Rain and humidity during spring and summer had resulted in higher levels of fungal disease on foliage, but Mr Skinner said it was too soon to tell what effect this would have on nut quality.
Flash flooding of orchards and some tree deaths - as a result of floodwaters pooling for extended periods - have caused more headaches for growers in northwest Victoria, where more than 70 per cent of Australia's almonds are grown.
Harvest began on some orchards last week.
Regardless of the downgrading of the size of this year's crop, Mr Skinner said the industry was on track to reach 84,000 tonnes by 2015, making it the fastest-growing horticulture sector in Australia.
Two-thirds of the crop is expected to be exported to 40 countries.
"With overseas sales expected to top $100 million for the first time this coming marketing year, almonds are now one of the most valuable horticultural products exported," he said.
Australian Nut Industry Council executive officer Chaseley Ross said cool temperatures, frequent rain and humidity had affected pollination, cut yields 20 to 30 per cent, delayed harvest by several weeks and encouraged the development of fungal and bacterial disease in pistachio, walnut, chestnut and hazelnut groves.
Ms Ross said pistachio growers also expected a record harvest of the biennial bearing crop.
The hulling plant at Robinvale has been expanded to handle the increased crop, with harvest expected to start mid-month.
Ms Ross said walnut growers were on track to start harvesting next month, with yields likely to be lower due to flood damage and walnut blight in some areas.
She said chestnut growers were also positive about next season, now that above-average rainfall had broken the drought and the chestnut blight eradication program to remove about 4000 trees in northeast Victoria was nearing completion.
Hazelnut yields were expected to be good, thanks to heavy summer rain at the critical kernel filling period, she said.
