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SELECT HARVESTS LIMITED — AGM Information 2014
Nov 20, 2014
65792_rns_2014-11-20_3825f0b6-8dcc-4b9a-acb3-de5e8e233b16.pdf
AGM Information
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Select Harvests Limited
AGM – Chairman's Presentation
21 November 2014






Disclaimer & Basis of Preparation

This presentation is provided for information purposes only and has been prepared using information provided by the company. The information contained in this presentation is not intended to be relied upon as advice to investors and does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular investor. Investors should consider their own individual investment and financial circumstances in relation to any investment decision.
Certain statements contained in this presentation may constitute forward-looking statements or statements about future matters that are based upon information known and assumptions made as of the date of this presentation. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed, predicted or implied by the statements contained in this presentation






Select Harvests – Financial Performance







Select Harvests - Strategy








Select Harvests - Brands


Orchards








Carina West Processing Facility & Laterals








Carina West Processing Facility – Hulling & Shelling








2014/15 Acquisition video available on our website www.selectharvests.com.au







Select Harvests Limited
AGM – Managing Directors Presentation
21 November 2014






Disclaimer & Basis of Preparation

This presentation is provided for information purposes only and has been prepared using information provided by the company. The information contained in this presentation is not intended to be relied upon as advice to investors and does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular investor. Investors should consider their own individual investment and financial circumstances in relation to any investment decision.
Certain statements contained in this presentation may constitute forward-looking statements or statements about future matters that are based upon information known and assumptions made as of the date of this presentation. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed, predicted or implied by the statements contained in this presentation






Agenda

Business Performance
- Almond Division
- Food Division
Strategy Update
- Overview
- Acquisitions
- Biomass / Cogeneration Plant
- Almond Dryer
Supply & Demand Drivers
- Global Update
- SHV, Crop & Price Update






FY14 Performance

Earnings Before Interest & Tax ("EBIT")
- Reported FY14 EBIT $41.8M* vs Reported FY13 EBIT $5.2M
- Underlying FY14 EBIT $41.8M* up 11% vs Underlying FY13 EBIT $37.7M
Net Profit after Tax ("NPAT")
- Reported FY14 NPAT $29.0M* vs Reported FY13 NPAT $2.9M
- Underlying FY14 NPAT $29.0M* up 27% vs Underlying FY13 NPAT $22.9M
Cash flow/Gearing/Funding
- FY14 Operating cash flow $23.1M (FY13 $4.1M) strong conversion
- Dual banking arrangement was agreed with NAB & Rabo including acquisition facility
Earnings Per Share ("EPS")
Reported FY14 EPS 50.2 cents per share ("cps") - up 25% vs Underlying FY13 EPS 40.1 cps
Dividends
- Final Dividend (unfranked) 9 cps last year Final Dividend 9 cps
- Full Year Dividends total 20 cents per share last year Full Year Dividends totalled 12 cps
* FY14 includes $6.0M pre-tax revaluation of almond trees
Increased profit and strong cash flow generation despite lower than anticipated crop volumes






FY14 Performance

OHS & Environment
- OHS Another improved safety result with group Lost Time Injuries (LTI) down 72.7%, year on year
- Zero major environment incidents
Acquisitions
Allinga & Mendook
Other Achievements
- Consumer complaints down 20%
- Processing damage at Carina West processing facility down 22%
- Processing cost flat at Thomastown
Post Year End Events
- Amaroo acquisition (including water acquisition 6,215 ML)
- Mullroo (Grewal) acquisition
- Capital raising $46.5M placement, $19.7M Share Purchase Plan
- Seven year high 41.7% Market Share Aug 2014 for Lucky Brand
- Industrial sales continue to grow
Performance improvement extends beyond the financials






Almond Division – Performance & Activities

Performance
- Price A$8.50/kg (FY13 A$6.38/kg) up 33% offsetting for reduced volume & quality
- Costs increased due to impact of wet harvest
- $6.0M revaluation of trees supported by higher almond price
- FY14 Acquisitions Allinga & Mendook (680 planted acres & 2,600 unplanted acres)
- FY15 Acquisitions Amaroo & Mullroo 2,481 planted acres & 2,865 unplanted acres in FY15 to date.
Activities
- Commenced orchard replant program 512 acres. Largely offset by Orchard maturity profile of portfolio
- Due diligence, bedding down and integration of acquisitions
- Improving on farm productivity and execution
- Planning orchards (replants/greenfields)
- Growing and supporting 2015 crop
SHV well positioned to take advantage of Supply & Demand fundamentals






Food Division – Performance & Activities

Performance
- Industrial delivers another record result 24% up on FY13
- Revenue reduction driven by loss of major retailer private label almond contracts
- Branded business remains strong
- Improved sales mix has driven margin improvement
- Production cost per kg remained flat year-on-year in spite of private label volume loss
Activities
- Brand relaunches (reformulate, relaunch) Sunsol Mueslis, Lucky Smart Snax
- Absolute focus on margin management and return on investment
- Multiple Consumer products price increases
- Scoping new markets both local and export
Emergence of a Brand driven Food Business






Strategy - Sunsol & Lucky Smart Snax Relaunch


New Branding & Packaging, New Formulation, Improved Margins






17 17
Strategic Objectives & Activities

| FY13 INITIATIVES | FY14 INITIATIVES | FY15 INITIATIVES | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | CONTROL CRITICAL MASSOF ALMONDS | Secure the critical mass of nutsneeded to maximizeprofitability and leverage theglobal almond opportunity. | •Acquired 1,286 acres almond orchard•Ceased WA investment | •Acquired 680 acres planted orchard•Acquired 1,000 acres unplanted•Replanted 512 acres @ higher densities | •Acquired 2,481 acres planted orchard•Acquired 4,465 acres unplanted•Acquired 6,215 ML high security water•Planting 948 acres Allinga |
| 2. | IMPROVE YIELD & CROPVALUE | Improve yield and overall cropvalue by perfecting on-farmand farm to factory practices. | •Restructured Horticulture Division•Investments in Benchmarking/Tech.•Improve efficiency/protect yield•$500K frost fans | •Total review of Horticultural assets15%•Further $500K frost fansROCE•Additional harvest equipment | •Additional harvest equipment•Biostimulantstrial•Trial catch & shake harvest technology |
| 3. | BE BEST IN CLASS SUPPLYCHAIN | Continuously improve oursupply chain, achieving highquality, low cost and optimumcapital utilisation. | •Restructured Operations Division | •Evaluate operational improvements&refine proposals•New Optical Sorter at Thomastown | •Biomass ElectricityCogen. Plant•Carina West Dryer |
| 4. | INVEST IN INDUSTRIAL &TRADING DIVISION | Allocate resources to leverageour trading skills and growsales in the industrial channel | •Grew Industrial Division 40% | •Grew Industrial Division 24% throughlocal and SE Asia customer base•Innovations assisted growth | •Expandingbusiness with foodprocessors in local and SE Asianmarkets |
| 5. | TURN AROUNDPACKAGED FOODBUSINESS | Develop a new model for thepackaged food category thatwill deliver sustainable returnsabove the cost of capital. | •Exited unprofitable RetailBrandbusiness•Product Research/Collect Insights | EPS•Product Development -7-10% paInnovation/Renovation/Reformulation/Repackaging•Brand relaunch -Sunsol& Lucky SmartSnax | •Multiple relaunches & new products•Range rationalisation•New distributors -Thailand & Malaysia |
| 6. | FIX OUR SYSTEMS &PROCESSES | Develop the business systemsand processes required to be aglobal industry leader. | •OHS improvement -LTI's dropped 60% | •OHS improvement -LTI's dropped 73%•New risk management framework•New OHS policies/procedures | •IT upgrade |
| 7. | ENGAGE WITH OURPEOPLE & OURSTAKEHOLDERS | Engage with investors and ourindustry while developing theteam required to be a globalindustry leader. | •Investor engagement –conferences, sitetours and road shows | 10%•Hort3 training for Farm Management•Refreshed company websiteEBIT pa•Introductionof employeenewsletters/intranet | •Further development of PerformanceReview process•Diversity Committee |
Significant progress on implementation of company's 7 strategic platforms & transition to a fully integrated agribusiness






Acquisitions – Geographic Diversity, Scale & Future.

Allinga – Loxton, SA (A$16.3M)
- 680 acres mature almond
- 948 acres suitable for planting to almonds (plant FY15)
- Gained SA water buyback/efficiency funding (Net $5m) support new plantings
Amaroo – Paringa, SA (A$52.5M)
- 2,046 acres almond (1,288 acres mature, 758 acres immature)
- 1,500 acres suitable for planting to almond (plant FY16,17)*
- 6,215ML high security water entitlements
- 764 acres citrus (leased out)
Mullroo (Grewal) – Lake Cullulleraine, VIC (A$8.5M)
- 435 acres almond (175 acres mature, 260 acres immature)
- 1,365 acres suitable for planting to almond (plant FY16, 17)*
Mendook – Euston, NSW (A$2.0M)
- 1,600 acres suitable for planting to almonds (plant FY16)*
- * Subject to business case
Geographically diversified portfolio of 13,311 acres of planted almond orchard







Strategy - Carina West Biomass Boiler


Project:
-
- To use almond prunings, hull & shell to generate steam to supply a turbine which will generate of electricity & steam for Carina West facility & neighbouring farms.
-
- Replace existing low voltage infrastructure with high voltage infrastructure, reducing buy price of electricity
Technology/Performance:
- Technology (EX Belgium) over 4,000 installations globally, first with almond hull
- Turn key contract with Vyncke & Obrien's Boiler Services completed by Nov 2016
- Consumes 30,000 tonnes of orchard & production waste
- Operates 328 days 24/7
- Generates 2.5MW electricity p.a., 17.5 tonnes steam/hour
- Abates 23,500 tonnes of Greenhouse gases
- Requires 8 skilled FTEs to operate
- Bi product 1,500 tonnes of potash
- Excess energy to be feed into grid offset against other facility usage
- Vic Gov't has indicated support post election
Funding:
- Annual CAPEX Budget (On Balance Sheet)
- In the process of applying for financial support from Victorian Government
$11.9m with annual saving of $2m per annum once fully operational






Strategy - Field Stock Drying at Carina West


Project:
- To allow field crop harvested to be green or wet then secured and stored with out quality deterioration
Technology/Performance:
- Grain dryer which will reduce moisture by 5% per cycle
- 15 tonnes per hour of field or kernel weight
- Energy source: Diesel then direct stream from Biomass plant
- Commissioned Jan 2015 in time for next season
- Example from 2014 season:
- 32,000 tonnes dried @ direct cost $320k
- New drying direct cost projected savings over 50%
Funding:
Annual CAPEX Budget ( On Balance Sheet)
New Dryer $720k at Carina West Processing will assist yield/quality retention in wet harvests






Global Supply - US Drought


SHV AGM 2013 – 0% Exceptional Drought, 11% Extreme Drought, 84% Severe Drought
SHV AGM 2014 – 55% Exceptional Drought, 80% Extreme Drought, 94% Severe Drought
ENTIRE US ALMOND INDUSTRY IS IN EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT REGIONS






Global Supply - Crop Outlook & Price Update

US Crop Update (2013/14) - harvested
- Market estimate of USA 2013/14 Almond crop now 1.7-1.8 billion pounds (Ref: Hilltop Ranch 2 Nov 2014)
- Down 300-400 million pounds on original NASS Objective Estimate of 2.1 billion pounds
Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
- Recent FTA's between Australia and Japan, Korea & China almond tariff reductions 2.4%, 8% and 10% respectively
- China is 2nd largest market for almonds globally rapid growth in last decade majority supplied from US
- Improves Select Harvests competitive position against current suppliers (mainly USA)
SHV Crop Update (2014/15) - growing
- Good blossom & pollination
- Growing conditions have been good
- Current estimate is for a good average crop
- 2014/15 crop estimate: approx. 13,000 tonnes (based on maturity profile of orchards & condition of acquired orchards)
Price (A$)
- SHV current FY15 pool price estimate is 10-15% above SHV FY14 average price (A$8.50/kg)
- Anticipate price to remain stable for the foreseeable future







Outlook – Business Focus
Almond Division
- Maximise 2015 crop
- Integrate acquisitions
- Prepare for 2015 & 2016 greenfield plantings & funding options
- Development of orchard benchmarking
- Implement CAPEX: Dryer, Biomass etc
- Secure further mature orchards
Food Division
- Continue innovation stream in industrial/packaged goods segments
- Raise the bar on quality and increase velocity of new product development
- Increase focus on SE Asia customer base
Corporate
- Invest in business systems and IT platform
- Undertake strategy review


Significant opportunity to improve the base business







Thank you
Please direct any queries to:
Paul Thompson Paul Chambers Andrew Angus Managing Director Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations +61 3 9474 3544 +61 3 9474 3544 +61 402 823 757






Income Statement

| FY13 | FY14 | |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Result | ($m) | ($m) |
| Reported Result | ||
| EBIT -Reported | 5.2 | 41.8 |
| Interest | (5.0) | (4.5) |
| NPBT | 0.2 | 37.4 |
| Tax (Expense)/Benefit | 2.7 | (8.3) |
| NPAT-Reported | 2.9 | 29.0 |
| Pre-Tax Adjustments* | 32.5 | - |
| Underlying Result | ||
| EBIT -Underlying | 37.7 | 41.8 |
| Interest | (5.0) | (4.5) |
| NPBT | 32.7 | 37.4 |
| (Tax Expense) | (9.8) | (8.3) |
| NPAT –Underlying | 22.9 | 29.0 |
- FY14 EBIT $41.8m (FY13 $37.7m)
- Almond Division EBIT $40.8m (FY13 $36.4m)
- Strong performance
- ─ 2014 crop yield below expectations
- ─ Higher than anticipated yields and prices for 2013 crop
- ─ Benefit of tree valuation of $6m
- 2014 costs up due to wet harvest season
- Strong performance
- Food Division EBIT $5.6m (FY13 $5.5m)
- Industrial sales up 24%
- Improved sales mix towards branded products
- Improved price management and cost control
- Corporate costs $4.6m (FY13 $4.1m)
- Tax expense includes R&D tax credit $1.8m
- NPAT up 27% to $29m
* WA impairment and discount on acquisition
Strong Result – opportunity for growth from increased yield potential and food turnaround





Balance Sheet
| Year EndingBalance Sheet | Jun-13($m) | Jun-14($m) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Assets excl. Cash | 114.4 | 130.3 |
| Cash | 8.9 | 6.3 |
| Non Current Assets | 180.5 | 204.6 |
| Total Assets | 303.8 | 341.2 |
| Current Liabilities (excl. Borrowings) | 35.9 | 25.7 |
| Borrowings | 88.1 | 101.1 |
| Non Current Liabilities (excl. Borrowings) | 20.3 | 31.7 |
| Total Liabilities | 144.3 | 158.5 |
| Total Equity | 159.5 | 182.8 |
| Net Debt | 79.2 | 94.8 |
| Net Debt /Equity | 49.7% | 51.9% |

| | Banking refinance, increase & extension complete | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • | NAB & Rabobank -$135m | ||||||||||
| • | $50m term expiring 2018 | ||||||||||
| • | $60m line -working capital & business projects | ||||||||||
| • | $25m acquisition line | ||||||||||
| • | Additional $50m acquisition bridge facilityapproved on 22 August 2014 | ||||||||||
| | Timing of new crop sales & receipts | ||||||||||
| • | Straddles 30 June balance date | ||||||||||
| • | Significant receipts since then | ||||||||||
| Net Debt $94.8m (includes funding of $16.3m Allingaacquisition in FY14) | |||||||||||
| | Gearing 51.9% (debt/equity) | ||||||||||
| • | Long term target to be below 40% |
• September 2014 equity raising to maintain current gearing
Achieve & maintain a prudent and flexible balance sheet to support growth strategy






Cash Flow
| CashFlow | FY13($m) | FY14($m) |
|---|---|---|
| EBITDA –(FY13 Underlying) | 42.5 | 45.6 |
| Change in Working Capital | (34.2) | (17.8) |
| Taxes Received | 0.9 | - |
| Net Interest | (5.1) | (4.7) |
| Cash flow from operating activities | 4.1 | 23.1 |
| Investing cash flows | (13.9) | (29.9) |
| Increasein Debt | 19.3 | 12.5 |
| Dividends Paid | (2.4) | (8.8) |
| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash/Cash Equivalents | 7.0 | (3.1) |

- The majority of the 2014 crop held at 30 June expected to convert to cash in 1HFY15
- Investing cash flows driven by:
- Orchard acquisitions $16.3m (Allinga)
- PPE $8.6m
- Water $3.5m
- Trees $1.5m
Capex - FY15
- Trees commence investment in planting out greenfield land bank
- Increased harvest matrix and mechanical drying
Strong operating cash flow conversion from existing assets







Financial History
| SHV Historical Summary | Units | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Sales | (A$M) | 217.9 | 229.5 | 224.7 | 248.6 | 238.4 | 248.3 | 251.3 | 191.1 | 188.3 |
| EBIT | (A$M) | 38.4 | 40.5 | 27.1 | 26.8 | 26.0 | 22.6 | 19.6 | 37.7 | 41.8 |
| EBIT Margin (EBIT/Sales -%) | (%) | 17.6% | 17.6% | 12.1% | 10.8% | 10.9% | 9.1% | 7.8% | 19.7% | 22.2% |
| PBT | (A$M) | 37.9 | 40.0 | 25.4 | 23.0 | 23.6 | 18.5 | 13.4 | 32.7 | 37.4 |
| Underlying NPAT | (A$M) | 26.5 | 28.1 | 18.1 | 16.7 | 17.3 | 17.7 | 9.5 | 22.9 | 29.0 |
| Issued Shares | No. of Shares | 39.7 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 39.5 | 39.8 | 56.2 | 56.8 | 57.5 | 58.0 |
| Earnings Per Share | (AUD Cents per Share) | 67.1 | 71.0 | 46.7 | 42.6 | 43.3 | 33.7 | 16.8 | 40.1 | 50.2 |
| Dividend per Share | (AUD Cents per Share) | 53.0 | 57.0 | 45.0 | 12.0 | 21.0 | 13.0 | 8.0 | 12.0 | 20.0 |
| Payout Ratio | (%) | 80.0% | 80.0% | 96.7% | 28.2% | 48.5% | 38.6% | 47.6% | 29.9% | 39.8% |
| Net Tangible Assets per Share | (A$/Share) | 1.83 | 1.57 | 1.41 | 1.56 | 1.87 | 2.17 | 2.19 | 2.14 | 2.47 |
| Net Interest Cover | (times) | 82.3 | 75.8 | 15.6 | 7.1 | 10.7 | 6.7 | 3.2 | 7.5 | 9.3 |
| Net Debt | (A$M) | 1.3 | 1.6 | 46.8 | 52.4 | 45.0 | 73.1 | 66.8 | 79.3 | 94.8 |
| Shareholder Equity | (A$M) | 101.5 | 95.5 | 94.1 | 100.9 | 113.6 | 168.8 | 160.3 | 159.5 | 182.8 |
| Net Debt to Equity Ratio | (%) | 1.3% | 1.7% | 49.7% | 51.9% | 39.6% | 43.3% | 41.7% | 49.7% | 51.9% |
| Share Price | (A$/Share) | 13.02 | 11.60 | 6.00 | 2.16 | 3.46 | 1.84 | 2.40 | 3.9 | 5.14 |
| Market Capitalisation | (A$M) | 517.0 | 449.4 | 234.1 | 85.4 | 137.6 | 103.5 | 120.0 | 224.3 | 298.12 |
| P/E Ratio | 19.5 | 16.0 | 12.9 | 5.1 | 8.0 | 5.8 | 12.6 | 9.8 | 10.2 |
Source: Company Data






Orchard Profile – Young Orchards PLUS Longevity


Select Harvests almond orchards have an average age of 10.9 years. On track to double acreage by 2018.






2015 Orchard Profile

| Almond orchard | Planted Orchard | Planted Orchard | Bearing Orchard | Bearing Orchards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| portfolio | Area (acres) | Area (hectares) | Area (acres) | Area (hectares) |
| Northern Region | ||||
| Owned | 1,491 | 604 | 1,423 | 576 |
| Leased | 3,017 | 1,221 | 3,017 | 1,221 |
| Total | 4,508 | 1,825 | 4,440 | 1,798 |
| Central Region | ||||
| Owned | 4,165 | 1,686 | 3,554 | 1,439 |
| Leased | 1,481 | 600 | 1,481 | 600 |
| Total | 5,646 | 2,286 | 5,035 | 2,039 |
| Southern Region | ||||
| Owned | 3,156 | 1,278 | 2,467 | 999 |
| Leased | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 3,156 | 1,278 | 2,467 | 999 |
| Total All Regions | ||||
| Owned | 8,812 | 3,568 | 7,444 | 3,014 |
| Leased | 4,498 | 1,821 | 4,498 | 1,821 |
| Total | 13,311 | 5,389 | 11,943 | 4,835 |
| Land bank (unplanted) | Acres | Hectares |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Region | - | - |
| Central Region | 1,600 | 648 |
| Southern Region | 3,865 | 1,565 |
| Total all Regions | 5,465 | 2,213 |
Source: Company Data




2015 Orchard Profile

| AREA BY TREE AGE | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years 0-7 | Years 8-26 | Years 26+ | TOTAL PLANTED | AVAILABLE TO PLANT | TOTAL | |||||||
| (acres) | (ha) | (acres) | (ha) | (acres) | (ha) | (acres) | (ha) | (acres) | (ha) | (acres) | (ha) | |
| Northern Region | ||||||||||||
| Company Owned | 312 | 126 | 1,179 | 477 | - | - | 1,491 | 604 | - | - | 1,491 | 604 |
| Leased | 1,332 | 539 | 1,685 | 682 | - | - | 3,017 | 1,221 | - | - | 3,017 | 1,221 |
| Total | 1,644 | 666 | 2,864 | 1,160 | - | - | 4,508 | 1,825 | - | - | 4,508 | 1,825 |
| CentralRegion | ||||||||||||
| Company Owned | 638 | 258 | 2,455 | 994 | 1,072 | 434 | 4,165 | 1,686 | 1,600 | 648 | 5,765 | 2,334 |
| Leased | - | - | 1,481 | 600 | - | - | 1,481 | 600 | - | - | 1,481 | 600 |
| Total | 638 | 258 | 3,936 | 1,594 | 1,072 | 434 | 5,646 | 2,286 | 1,600 | 648 | 7,246 | 2,934 |
| SouthernRegion | ||||||||||||
| Company OwnedLeased | 1,018- | 412- | 2,138- | 866- | -- | -- | 3,156- | 1,278- | 3,865- | 1,565- | 7,021- | 2,843- |
| Total | 1,018 | 412 | 2,138 | 866 | - | - | 3,156 | 1,278 | 3,865 | 1,565 | 7,021 | 2,843 |
| TOTAL | ||||||||||||
| Company Owned | 1,968 | 797 | 5,772 | 2,337 | 1,072 | 434 | 8,812 | 3,568 | 5,465 | 2,213 | 14,277 | 5,780 |
| Leased | 1,332 | 539 | 3,166 | 1,282 | - | - | 4,498 | 1,821 | - | - | 4,498 | 1,821 |
| Total | 3,300 | 1,336 | 8,938 | 3,619 | 1,072 | 434 | 13,311 | 5,389 | 5,465 | 2,213 | 18,776 | 7,601 |
Source: Company Data





Significant Orchard Growth. Double plantings by 2018


Growth - 5,465 acres of unplanted land suitable for almonds will be planted over the next 4 years





Global Supply – US Reservoirs/Temp/Snowpack


Temperature
- Six Months In and Sizzling California Sets Record - Andrea Thompson, Climate Central, 16 July 2014
- ─ California just finished the hottest first half year on record, a period going back 120 years, according to the national climate overview for June released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- ─ http://www.climatecentral.org/news/california-warmest-year-record-17774
Snowpack
- California drought: Sierra snowpack is barely there - Peter Fimrite, SFGate, San Francisco Chronicle , 2 May 2014
- ─ The snow levels in the Sierra were only 18 percent of average on Thursday, when the last of the season's once-a-month measurements was taken by the California Department of Water Resources. That's worse than last month, when the snowpack was 32 percent of normal for the date. Conditions get worse the farther north one goes in the Sierra and Cascade ranges. The snowpack is a paltry 7 percent of average in the northern part of the state, according to the measurements
- ─ http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/California-drought-Sierra-snowpackis-barely-5446649.php
Reservoir Conditions: Most storages have less than half of their historical average water levels
Temperature: Hottest 6 months on record drives evaporation/transpiration
Snowpack: Historically low snowpack which provide the surface water / ground water recharge is concerning






Global Supply - US Groundwater Levels


This trio of images depicts satellite observations of declining water storage in California as seen by NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellites in June 2002 (left), June 2008 (center) and June 2014 (right). Colors progressing from green to orange to red represent greater accumulated water loss between April 2002 and June 2014. California's Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins, including the Central Valley, have suffered the greatest losses, in part due to increased groundwater pumping to support agricultural production. Between 2011 and 2014, the combined river basins have lost 4 trillion gallons (15 cubic kilometers, or 12 million acre-feet) of water each year, an amount far greater than California's 38 million residents use in cities and homes annually.
Source: NASA (http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA18816)
Source 2: Dept of Water Resources, California (http://www.water.ca.gov/waterconditions/docs/Drought\_Response-Groundwater\_Basins\_April30\_Final\_BC.pdf)
Groundwater accounts for 30-60% of California water use. NASA data shows serious water loss since 2002






Global Demand – Diverse. High Growth

Almonds have held the No.1 position in global tree nut innovations since 2006 (35% market share 2013).
Long term US per capita consumption of almond outpaces all other tree nuts (376% growth since 1980)





