The rain has truly bucketed down this season. (Supplied: Sharon Nilson)
As rain continues to smash the east coast, many are looking for a let up in the wet weather. But the autumn outlook indicates wetter-than-average conditions are likely to hang around for a while yet.
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And some extra stores might come in handy, it seems …
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The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation affects drought risk in eastern Australia. (ABC Rural: Melanie Groves)
Windblown Antarctica might seem a far cry from eastern Australia, but beneath the ice lies ancient clues of what our climate looked like in the past and what it might do in the future. Tessa Vance, a palaeoclimatologist with the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, recently published research suggesting this future might be drier and more drought-prone than previously thought.
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The reaction to the vote is mixed, but irrigators say it's a lose-lose situation without regulations. Supplied: Amy Burling)
The NSW Upper House has again rejected controversial floodplain harvesting regulations that the state government implemented this week despite two additional previous disallowance motions.
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COVID restrictions: stay informed
While restrictions are generally lifting across Australia, it’s more important than ever to keep up with the constantly changing status of pandemic regulations. You can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:
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Children may have just returned to school, but a new grant will help savvy teachers to get them out of the classroom and into the paddock. NSW Farmers and the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment have teamed up to deliver the Kids to Farms program, and now there are $1500 grants on offer to help primary school teachers to add a farm excursion to the curriculum, after a long period of at-home learning.
Why not contact your local school and see if they’re keen to get involved.
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Exporters have been hit by many freight charges due to COVID-19 supply chain hold-ups and poor performance on the waterfront with many of those in the supply chain getting in for their cut, reducing income for ag exporters.
The freight cost hammer may be yet to fall on ag exporters as the fight for export space on ships intensifies, the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) has warned. The APSA has made a string of recommendations to a looming Productivity Commission review, calling on the Federal Government to make the waterfront more productive to help reduce costs for exporters.
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Got something to sell? Or want to buy? Go direct to your target market – olive growers and producers
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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 - like Renate, who’s selling an Oliomino 700 and a Speedy Shaker. 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.
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Outbreaks of Queensland fruit fly in the Riverland have growers worried. (Supplied: Hort Innovation)
Fruit growers in South Australia's Riverland are calling on the public to stick to tight fruit movement controls imposed to fight a long-running pest outbreak in the area.
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Fed up farmers are asking for more action in enforcing the Biosecurity Act, with weeds alone costing the economy $1.8 billion every year. According to the State of the Environment report, weeds cost the NSW economy $1.8 billion each year in lost agricultural production and management costs, with the spread of emerging invasive species getting worse.
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More than 7000 domestic seasonal workers have been attracted to the agricultural sector through $20-million worth of government incentives, senate estimates has revealed. |
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Tasmania: 2022 Healthier Safer and Productive Workplaces Grants Program |
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The 2022 Healthier, Safer and Productive Workplaces Grants Program offers grants to fund innovative solutions that create safe and healthy Tasmanian workplaces. The Program aligns with the WorkCover Tasmania Board and WorkSafe Tasmania’s Strategic Plan 2018-2023, aimed at reducing harm in Tasmanian workplaces, and responding to current and emerging WHS issues.
The Grants Program is open to NFP organisations, individuals, industry bodies, private and community organisations, and educational institutions with an ABN, operating within Tasmania.
Applications close on 1 April 2022.
Find out more and apply here. |
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Webinar: Tips to protect beneficial insects in an IPM program |
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Chemicals have different modes of action that can affect both insect pests and beneficial species differently. It's important for growers to understand the risk profile of these modes of action, and how it can be used to implement an integrated pest management (IPM) approach.
Find out more in the webinar recording from the Soil Wealth ICP project, available to view here. You can also access a series of guides which provide information on the effects of pesticides on key beneficial insects in crops.
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Have your say on domestic organics regulation |
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Public consultation is now open on Australia’s domestic organic regulatory framework, including how to support industry growth and build consumer confidence.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment invites stakeholders, including farmers, transporters, exporters, retailers, consumers and industry bodies to have their say on a new organics regulation impact statement.
The public consultation is open until 5pm AEDT on Thursday, 17 March. Find out more and have your say here. |
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IFAM briefing for the horticulture industry
Australian horticultural producers, exporters and agribusinesses are invited to hear the latest airfreight and export news from IFAM. This free virtual WebEx event will include a live Q&A session providing the opportunity to speak directly with freight logisticians.
Find out more and register here. |
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AOA Healthy Soils Field Day – Riverina, NSW |
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Highlighting the role and management of healthy soils in producing healthy trees and lifting grove productivity, the field day sees a wealth of information presented in the grove with hands-on demonstrations.
The information covers 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, the program involves specialist service providers who will demonstrate and discuss the latest technology to monitor, test and measure vital soil parameters and tree health.
Details:
When: Sunday 27 March
Where: Parafield Olives, Yarragundry, NSW
Cost: AOA members and Levy Payers $40 inc GST ; Others $50 inc GS.T
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Carbon footprint and feasibility workshop
Part of the Farm Business Resilience Program, this workshop provides information on carbon emissions, and where to start/which actions to take around setting carbon neutral goal posts for your business. For example, having a current carbon footprint is essential information.
- the training is available to 10 businesses (up to 2 people per business attending)
- each business will be required to supply data to Integrity Agriculture and Environment in the weeks prior
- will include a one-on-one session with a consultant to develop a property carbon footprint assessment
- participants will receive a report that can be used during the workshop to personalise understanding and to customise discussion on the available options for practice change.
Details:
29 March, 9am-4pm - Mallee region (location TBC).
Please note this workshop has limited places (10 farming businesses only).
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The Good Stuff – Olive Oil & Olives with Rosa Matto |
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Places are still available for the cookery demonstration and olive education session with popular chef and food personality Rosa Matto, being held at the WEA Adelaide on 5 March 2022.
A celebration of cooking with olives and olive oil, the session will feature recipes for a delicious full meal, including appetisers, pasta, fish, vegetables and dessert. A cooked lunch with Rosa is always entertaining, and the session will provide culinary inspiration for anyone who loves to cook.
Olives SA producers will also be on hand to handle the more ‘technical’ questions around EVOO and table olive production and quality.
Tickets are available directly from the WEA - find out more and book here. |
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Reminder: last round of Focus Grove Project field visits |
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A reminder that the final round of Field Days under this project are being held in March, except for Northland which will also receive a follow-up visit most likely in August.
The key aspects of the March Field Days are:
- nutritional advice – recommendations from 2022 leaf tests;
- disease management – sprays applied since October;
- pruning – review of post-harvest pruning and any need for secondary pruning;
- crop load – review of how flowering has translated into fruit set;
- any other observations, e.g. weather challenges.
March dates are:
Monday, 14 - Kakariki, Nelson (also Neudorf)
Tuesday, 15 - Terrace Edge, Canterbury (also Two Old Soldiers and Athena)
Friday, 18 - Olives on the Hill, Northland
Monday, 21 - a.m. Leafyridge, Wairarapa; p.m. Bella Olea, Wairarapa
Wednesday, 23 - Aquiferra, Hawke’s Bay
More information on the Olives NZ website here. |
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By analyzing leaves, agronomists can determine which elements and compounds the olive tree may be missing or have in excess. |
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Rising temperatures are eroding Europe’s soils, putting at risk the production of wines, olives and nuts, according to researchers in Greece and Sweden. Farms and orchards in Mediterranean countries risk turning into deserts because the level of organic material in soil there is falling while the level of salts is rising, according to findings by the Navarino Environmental Observatory in Greece and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.
This is a hot topic, it seems, with other recent articles like these also tackling the issue …
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Researchers are worried about the increasing phenomenon of co-occurring droughts, which are 10 times more likely now than in the previous century. |
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Talks to resolve the Brexit border dispute in Northern Ireland are stuck because of pointless EU red tape over olive oil exports, critics claim.
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Algarve, Portugal.
Experts warn that the absence of significant rainfalls in the coming months will degrade water quality and strain irrigation-dependent crops, including some olive groves.
But not yet, it seems …
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Olive oil production in Portugal is expected to reach a record level this year, with a 46% increase in volume compared to 2019 and contrasting with the “historic lows” of the output of winter cereals, which has been hit by drought, according to figures released on Thursday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
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Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news |
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We’ve started another new year, and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) will continue 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! |
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The European Commission has approved 31.5 million euros in Greek government support for specific types of farmers and producers affected by restrictive measures imposed during the continuing coronavirus pandemic. |
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A new study suggests that adhering to the Mediterranean diet might curtail the worst episodes connected to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Research out of Iran shows that children who have been diagnosed with ADHD might find in the extra virgin olive oil-centered eating program a precious ally.
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16 February 2022: International NGO, Human Appeal, is supporting a project to plant a total of 25000 olive trees in Palestinian farmlands, following recent disruption to the region’s olive tree farm industry. The olive tree project is supported by Human Appeal France, The Palestinian Hydrological Group (PHG), and Zakat Al Quds, a Palestinian charitable foundation operating under the supervision of the Jordanian Ministry of Islamic endowments.
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2022
1-4 March
ABARES Outlook 2022 Conference
5 March
WEA cooking/education session on EVOO and TO with Rosa Matto - Adelaide
14 March
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Nelson
15 March
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Canterbury
18 March
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Northland
20 March
2022 Olives New Zealand AGM – Online
21 March
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Wairarapa
23 March
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Hawke’s Bay
27 March
AOA Healthy Soils Field Day – Wagga Wagga, NSW
28 May
Olives SA/WEA seminar, Tasting and appreciating EVOO – Adelaide
1 June
Entries open, 2022 Australian International Olive awards
6-8 June
Hort Connections 2022 – Brisbane
26 August
Entries close, 2022 Australian International Olive awards
3 October
Medals announced, 2022 Australian International Olive awards
8 October
Olives NZ Conference and Awards Dinner – Wellington, NZ
14 October
Field tour, 2022 AOA National Olive Conference & Exhibition – Devonport, Tasmania
14 October
Awards Dinner, 2022 Australian International Olive awards
15-16 October
2022 AOA National Olive Conference & Exhibition – Devonport, Tasmania
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Friday Olive Extracts is Published by: |
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Olivegrower Communications: |
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Olivegrower & Processor
December Issue
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Australian and New Zealand
Olive Industry Directory
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