According to RDO Equipment Australia, citing Lismore Engineering, the new harvesting system combines a John Deere 331 P-Tier Compact Track Loader with a newly developed double row macadamia harvester to significantly increase harvesting efficiency.
First Double Row Harvesting System
Australian engineering company Lismore Engineering has introduced what is believed to be the country’s first double row macadamia harvesting system, using a John Deere 331 P-Tier Compact Track Loader as its power unit.
The machine has been delivered to Eden Mac Macadamias at Chatsworth Island, where it will begin commercial harvesting operations. The delivery was announced by RDO Equipment Australia, which supplied the John Deere loader.
Unlike conventional orchard harvesters that collect a single row at a time, the new system is designed to harvest two rows simultaneously, allowing operators to cover significantly more ground during each pass.
3 Meter Header Increases Productivity
The heart of the new attachment is a 3 meter double row harvesting head paired with a twin dehusker system.
This configuration enables the machine to gather larger volumes of fallen macadamia nuts while immediately removing the outer husks before transport or storage. Processing more crop in a single operation reduces unnecessary machine movements through the orchard and helps improve daily harvesting output during the narrow harvest window.
For growers facing increasing labor costs and larger orchard sizes, reducing the number of passes required across the field can translate into meaningful savings in both fuel and operating time.
Why the John Deere 331 P-Tier Makes Sense
Selecting the John Deere 331 P-Tier as the carrier is a logical engineering decision.
Compact track loaders provide excellent flotation, strong hydraulic performance, and outstanding maneuverability between orchard rows. Compared with larger agricultural tractors, they also maintain stability while operating heavy front mounted equipment and can work effectively on softer soils without creating excessive compaction.
The 331 P-Tier’s high auxiliary hydraulic capacity makes it particularly well suited for powering complex harvesting attachments that rely on multiple hydraulic motors, conveyors, and cleaning systems.
A Sign of Where Specialty Harvesting Is Heading
While this project is focused specifically on macadamias, it reflects a broader trend across specialty crop agriculture.
Manufacturers are increasingly moving away from purpose built self propelled harvesters toward modular attachment systems that use compact loaders as multi purpose power platforms. This approach gives growers greater flexibility because the same carrier machine can often perform harvesting, material handling, orchard maintenance, and other seasonal tasks simply by changing attachments.
In my view, this Australian development is important not because it introduces another harvesting attachment, but because it demonstrates how specialized engineering can maximize the value of existing equipment fleets. For many orchard operators, investing in a versatile carrier machine with purpose built implements can deliver a faster return than purchasing dedicated single purpose harvesters.
If the system performs as expected in commercial conditions, similar concepts could eventually appear in almond, pecan, hazelnut, and other tree nut industries where harvesting efficiency remains a major cost driver.
About John Deere
Founded in 1837, John Deere is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of agricultural, construction, forestry, and turf equipment. The company operates in more than 100 countries, employs approximately 80,000 people worldwide, and generated over $51 billion in net sales and revenues during fiscal year 2025. Alongside its machinery business, John Deere continues expanding its portfolio of precision agriculture technologies, automation, and autonomous equipment designed to improve productivity across farming and construction.
