Turnout is the total meat weight as a percentage of the in- hull weight delivered to the huller, not to be confused with “crackout,” which is the total meat weight as a percentage of the in- shell weight. So, why even think about turnout since it includes all the debris that comes from the orchard? Turnout is an early and important indicator of the total crop potential . Turnout can vary widely between varieties and from grower to grower. Those who condition their crops will experience higher turnout values as conditioning removes much the debris from the windrow, providing for a cleaner harvest.
How does turnout impact the final crop volume? The example below shows the impact of a 1% change in turnout on the total crop. Estimated Crop 3.00 Billon Pounds Turnout 24.0% In-Hull Field Weight 12.5 Billon Pounds Revised Turnout 23.0 % Revised Crop 2.85 Billon Pounds Variation 4.2% There are several theories as to what causes the trees to store more weight in the hull instead of the kernel. I don’t know anyone who truly understands this. It remains one of the mysteries of almond farming. Orchard Health While water supplies were generally sufficient to support the crop, economics also played a role in orchard health during the 2025 growing season. Unfortunately, the most efficient irrigation methods, drip and micro-sprinkler, are also the most expensive due to the cost of electricity needed to pressurize the water. Pumping costs approaching $1,000 per acre are not uncommon. Because of this, I consistently witness growers regularly under-irrigating their orchards.
Conditioning can reduce hulling/shelling costs Conditioning involves lifting the previously windrowed crop, removing soil and debris and spreading the crop back onto the orchard floor in a clean, flat windrow. While some growers consider conditioning an additional cost, there are several benefits that can lead to lower total harvesting costs. • Potential faster drying time in the orchard, enabling speedier harvest and lower damage potential from ants. • Cleaner crops reduce the weight and volume of field-run volume removed from the orchard, thus reducing trucking costs. • Lower hulling/shelling costs at facilities charging on incoming or field-run weight. • Reduced chipped and broken damage due to removal of sticks from the windrow, providing better quality. Huller/sheller managers reported lower than normal turnout values in the 2024 crop. Surprisingly, many also reported that turnouts were even lower in the 2025 crop. No doubt, this contributed to the lower than forecast 2025 crop volume.
Poor economics have caused growers to reduce, and sometimes, eliminate critical crop inputs. Limiting fertilizer and water can save money, but at the expense of yield and/or quality. Many fail to realize that the nutrient applied to any crop in the greatest quantity is water. Huller/sheller managers reported experiencing a relatively high percentage of sticktights in the crop, most likely due to reduced irrigation. Depending on how severe the cutbacks were, these actions can also impact the potential of the 2026 crop.
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