Australia's overarching water policy is outdated and will struggle to meet population and climate challenges without a major overhaul, according to the Productivity Commission.

Irrigators in northern New South Wales will feel some pain as the State Government moves to cut the amount of flood plain water they harvest, the Water Minister has warned. A report on flood plain harvesting in the Gwydir Valley, a big cotton growing area, has shown the water take is 11 per cent above the cap allowed under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Australian agriculture industry bosses have vowed to continue efforts to lower carbon emissions from farming, despite an opposing push by the federal Nationals to have agriculture excluded from any net zero emissions target. The National Party's position is at odds with the support shown by various agricultural bodies including Meat and Livestock Australia, the National Farmers Federation and Farmers for Climate Action.

It has been a tough 12 months for the agricultural show movement across the country with COVID-19 forcing the cancellation of many events. But Tenterfield in northern New South Wales can still boast its local show has not been cancelled in more than 100 years, when the showground served as a Spanish flu quarantine camp in 1919.

The New South Wales Agriculture Minister says an announcement will be made this week to ease pressure on farmers who have been crying out for help to get crops from the farm to market. It follows National Cabinet's move to lift coronavirus passenger caps, which will allow more overseas workers to come in and fill 26,000 jobs going begging in the agriculture sector.

The deterioration of the seasonal workforce is having devastating impacts on the Australian horticultural industry, and with the worse yet to come, it is consumers who will wear the cost. Last week, the National Lost Crop Register surpassed $45 million in losses at farmgate value.

Tasmanian orchardist John Brown is struggling to get workers to pick fruit despite a special deal by the Government to fly in workers to the state from the Pacific Islands. Based at Sassafras, on Tasmania's north-west coast, the cherry and apple grower was due to employ 18 Pacific Island staff, but still needs about 150 workers for the apple harvest.

The sheer scale of the bushfires that scarred so much of the country's east coast a year ago shocked millions around the world. But the enormity of what followed is almost as stunning. From philanthropists to celebrities and corporations to ordinary people across the country, Australians rallied in their millions to help, and in doing so created a challenge like no other - how to get the enormous sum of $640 million raised to people in need.

It’s important to keep up with the changing status of pandemic regulations, so you can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:

Got something to sell? Or want to buy? Go direct to your target market – olive growers and producers.

If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, you can reach your target market directly with Olivebiz Classifieds. Our online Classifieds service is an easy and inexpensive solution to advertising your unwanted equipment, extra oil - or even your grove. And if there’s something you’re looking for, it’s the ideal way to get the message out loud and clear to your peers and industry associates – the most likely to have what you need.

Olivebiz Classifieds cost just $40 for AOA members ($100 for non-members), including a text ad and link through to either your web page or images hosted on our site. And you don’t need to be a tech-head: just send us your info and we’ll post it up for you.

Olivebiz Classifieds are online now at www.olivebiz.com.au/classifieds. To arrange a listing, contact Gerri at editor@olivegrower.com.au.

Cardia Forsyth has more than 40 hectares of lush hinterland at Toms Creek, but the property is riddled with invasive plant species that fellow farmers across the country struggle to control. While many landholders turn to herbicides or to physically pulling out a weed from the root, Ms Forsyth turned to an ancient solution to eradicate the unwanted plants. "We went into herding and farming goats to take care of our weeds," she said.

The Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC), in partnership with the Victorian Government, has just launched a new $10 million Business Support Fund, offering grants up to $1 million for individual businesses and collaborative partnerships to identify and implement circular economy opportunities. The grants will support projects focused on waste reduction, re-use, remanufacture, upcycling, and innovative approaches to recycling.

So if you’re interested in sourcing funding to support your waste-busting initiatives, the first step is to attend the Business Support Fund information session next Tuesday, February 16. You can find out all about eligibility, timeframes and more, and have your questions answered. Questions specific to the grants can also be forwarded to Grants.Enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au.

The closing date for applications is 12 March. You can find out more about the Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre here and access full details on the grants page here. 

The first of the AOA’s Healthy Soils Field Days is on this Sunday, with the program running during February and March in major production regions across all states.

Each field day focuses on the role of healthy soils in producing healthy trees and lifting grove productivity. Presented in the grove, the information will cover a wide range of topics around soil health, from identifying and managing soil issues to monitoring and improving both soil and tree health. Along with expert speakers, each program will involve a panel of specialist service providers who will demonstrate and discuss the latest technology to monitor, test and measure vital soil parameters and tree health.

14 February - Lentara Grove, Exeter, TAS

21 February - Lisadurne Hill Olives, Rushworth, VIC

28 February - Peninsula Providore Farm - Nangkita Olive Grove, Tooperang SA

7 March - Hunters Dream Estate, Pokolbin NSW

14 March - aFthonia Farms, Hampton (via Toowoomba), QLD

28 March - Preston Valley Grove, Lowden (via Donnybrook) WA

Cost* is $40 incl GST for AOA members and levy payers; $50 incl GST for others.

* Tickets will be refunded where a Field Day needs to be re-scheduled to due COVID. Where possible, the decision to cancel will be made at least 7 days prior to the scheduled date.

The full program for each field day, including speaker and venue details, is available on the OliveBiz website here, where you can also register. 

This one day of learning how to care for your soil will repay you, your grove and your business for years to come. Don’t miss out, register now!

Producers and distributors in Spain will not need to apply the “yellow C” assigned by the controversial labeling system Nutri-Score to their olive oils, Minister of Consumption Alberto Garzón announced.

Reaching for the olive oil to coat a skillet or make a quick salad dressing is the go-to for many. But what is the difference between olive oil and vegetable oil? Is one better than the other? We've got the answers.

An effort is underway in Tunisia to certify the first sensory analysis panel composed entirely of blind people. The panel formed in the city of Sfax and was led by Mariem Gharsallaoui, a researcher at Tunisia’s Institut de l’Oliver.

With 2021 now underway, Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) continues to bring all the latest industry news and events to your Inbox every week. THE place to share olive industry news, event details and reminders, our industry e-newsletter keeps growing in popularity and we now have nearly 4000 subscribers across the globe. If you’re not one of them, you can sign up here.

And please remember that FOE is YOUR e-newsletter, so we’re keen to receive your news and help spread the word. Just email your information to Editor Gerri Nelligan at editor@olivegrower.com.au - it’s free, and the best way to reach your fellow industry members!

A YouTube video advertisement features a Beverly Hills doctor making questionable claims to sell his Moroccan olive oil for nearly $200 per liter.

As long as you're using a quality product, you can crank the heat (science agrees).

A heated debate between olive oil producers in Crete and Sevitel, the association of Greek bottlers of olive oil, has ignited over the intention of the Cretan producers to market their olive oil under one common PGI label.

Italian extra virgin olive oil consumption grew by about six percent in 2020, according to a report by the Italian Association of the Oil Industry (Assitol). Two-thirds of Italians said they believe extra virgin olive oil is a high-quality product with exceptional flavor, the report found. Sixty percent buy the product because they know it is healthy.

Healthy Soils Field Day - Exeter, TAS

Healthy Soils Field Day - Rushworth, VIC

Healthy Soils Field Day - Tooperang SA

Healthy Soils Field Day - Hunter Valley NSW

Healthy Soils Field Day, Hampton (via Toowoomba), QLD

Olives NZ AGM (Zoom)

Soil CRC Participants Conference

Healthy Soils Field Day - Lowden (via Donnybrook) WA

Entries close, Berlin Global Olive Oil Awards – Berlin, Germany

Entries close, OLIVE JAPAN 2021 International Olive Oil Competition

Registrations close/samples due, EVO IOOC – Palmi, Italy

Farm2Plate Exchange 2021 – Scenic Rim, Qld

Winners announced, OLIVE JAPAN 2021 International Olive Oil Competition

Hort Connections 2021 – Brisbane, Qld

Entries open, Hunter Olive Show

Entries close, Hunter Olive Show

Awards night, Hunter Olive Show

2021 National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition - Devonport, Tasmania

To include your event, or update your existing event details, email FOE editor Gerri Nelligan at editor@olivegrower.com.au

Friday Olive Extracts Editorial editor@olivegrower.com.au

Advertising: editor@olivegrower.com.au

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