AlmondBeat Australia 2026: Post-Harvest Recovery Starts Earlier Than You Think

Harvest may be over — but the next season has already begun.

The weeks following harvest are some of the most important for setting up a strong bloom, canopy development, and orchard performance for next season.

Yet, post-harvest irrigation decisions are often among the most challenging choices growers make.

Read the full AlmondBeat Australia 2026 post harvest analysis by Heino Malan, National Business Development Manager

Why post-harvest matters

After harvest, almond trees are still actively:

• rebuilding carbohydrate reserves

• supporting root growth

• preparing buds for next season

• recovering from harvest stress

Reducing irrigation too aggressively after harvest can limit the tree’s ability to fully recover before dormancy and impact next season’s potential.

Australian conditions add complexity

Across almond regions like the Riverina, Sunraysia, and the Murray Valley, growers are balancing:

• declining water allocations and rising water costs

• lingering autumn heat

• variable soil types within the same orchards

• older orchards productivity decline.

• pressure to reduce late-season irrigation and cut seasonal labour costs

This creates a difficult balance between water efficiency and recovery.

Using plant feedback to guide recovery

Phytech helps growers:

• understand how trees are responding after harvest

• identify blocks recovering unevenly

• optimise irrigation timing

• avoid over- or under-irrigation during recovery

• make more confident decisions heading into dormancy

Strong seasons are built after harvest

The decisions made now can influence:

• next season’s bloom strength

• canopy development

• stress resilience

• long-term orchard productivity

Recovery isn’t an afterthought. It’s the foundation of next season’s crop.

25/26 Season Summary & 26/27 market outlook :

The 2025/26 crop landed near the industry’s pre-harvest estimate of ~166,900 t (kernel-weight), supported by record-equivalent plantings but trimmed by January heat events and heavy March rainfall in Sunraysia and the Riverland. The Riverina, conversely, delivered the highest-quality kernel in years. Demand into the 2026/27 selling year remains firm — China and India continue to draw volume at five-year-high prices, and a low carry-out is expected.

Biggest 25/26 Challenges: Heat & Harvest Rain

•    Early & late January heatwaves across the southern Murray hit the trees hard, impacting quality and kernel fill; the immediate impact was visible in lighter nut weights at the margin.

•    March Rain: Mildura recorded ~150 mm in 36 hours, halting shaking and forcing growers to retrieve, dry and segregate windrowed nuts. Sunraysia and the Riverland were most affected.

•    Riverina escaped most of the rain with only 30mm during the same period, one of its driest harvest periods in years and is expected to deliver the best kernel quality of the season.