Victorian dairy farmer Daryl Hoey has been keenly watching and waiting for details about Australia's newly inked net zero plan, but he has been left sorely disappointed. "Climate change is affecting us now and has been for a number of years, and to leave it until this late in the day to finally get their act together and we still don't know what the policy is?" he said, exasperated.

A first-time entrant has scooped a bundle of the top awards in this year's Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA). Among its swag of medals, Leisal Rose Farm, Boorowa, New South Wales won the Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Show - Boutique Volume at the awards. 

Olive oil producer Rio Vista Olives has taken out several top prizes at the 2021 Australian International Olive Awards, edging out interstate and international competition in a successful showing for the SA brand.

Shop Mount Zero’s olives, olive oils, grains and salts, plus coffee beans from Market Lane, miso paste, sourdough, pastas, spices, household cleaners and more – all plastic-free. There’ll be two-litre tubs of Meredith Dairy goat's cheese, too.

A $25-million support package has been announced for COVID-hit agricultural shows and field days to help them return in 2022. The federal government announced it would extend the Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Day Program by $21 million this year and has committed to a $4 million program to support showmen and women.

While lockdowns have lifted in NSW and Melbourne, it’s still important to keep up with the changing status of pandemic regulations across the board. You can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:

It's a rainy, misty afternoon and 82-year-old farmer Graham Bilbe is out doing some regular work on his avocado and macadamia farm in northern New South Wales. He walks with a limp and uses a cane for support - but the fact that he is alive and walking at all is remarkable.

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. 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.

Lithgow's Centennial plant has always had a problem: what to do with the millions of litres of contaminated wastewater generated by its longwall coal mining operation. Up to 350,000 litres of treated wastewater is being discharged each day into the Sydney water catchment under an Environment Protection Authority licence.

An Australian soil carbon startup has raised $40 million from investors including Silicon Valley tech billionaires. Loam Bio, formerly Soil Carbon Company, was founded in Orange on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales in 2019.

The Australian Government has granted $3.2 million to Growcom to bolster uptake of the Fair Farms program.

Developed and led by the horticulture industry, Fair Farms supports horticulture employers to lift employment standards.

Find out more here.

Tasmanian producers will soon benefit from direct freight flights to Hong Kong, with Cathay Pacific announcing that it will recommence flights between Hobart to Hong Kong from 29 November 2021.

The recommencement of flights by the airline will help Tasmanian businesses continue to export produce to the world. Flights are expected to operate weekly and will continue after Christmas.

The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) supports Australian exporters to continue to supply international markets via critical global air connections. IFAM provides logistical and administrative support for international freight movements by aggregating cargo loads, negotiating with airlines, and dealing with partner governments to facilitate clearances and improve transparency of freight costs during the pandemic.

Contact your preferred freight forwarder to access available flights and for more information and flight details, visit the IFAM webpage or download the IFAM Flight Schedule Outbound.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has released an update to its COVID-19 Workplace Guide, which includes advice on vaccinations and the workplace.

The Guide, first released in April 2020, contains practical information relating to a number of topics, including quarantine requirements for new workers, social distancing at work and financial support, as well as work health and safety and industrial relations considerations.

Download the NFF COVID-19 Workplace Guide here.

The Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre - CEBIC is delivering the RV Innovation Fund on behalf of the Victorian Government. Round 2 is underway and will award up to $750,000 across two streams, including: 

Applications close on 15 November. 

More information here or direct questions about the fund by contacting: 

The 2021 Hunter Olive Show committee are continuing to manage the intricacies of organising through the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the competition goes ahead this year.

Although most travel restrictions have now been lifted in NSW, people living in greater Sydney have not yet been allowed travel into regional NSW, so unfortunately it has been necessary to defer judging until November 13. 

Hunter Olive Association President Marie Kearns said this year’s competition has seen strong support from both within and outside the Hunter area, with entries from across regional NSW, Victoria and the ACT.

“The results will be announced immediately following the judging. Thanks to everyone for their patience,” she said.

The Olives South Australia (OSA) 2021 AGM is being held on Thursday, 25 November, starting at 6:00pm at the Little Bang Brewing Company, 25 Henry St, Stepney.

Nominations for Board positions are now open, with six positions up for election, and all members are invited to either stand for election or nominate another willing and capable member for election.

Nomination forms are available here, to be received by the Returning Officer prior to the meeting.

The AGM will be followed by an opportunity to network with the Board and fellow OSA members.

New members are always welcome – apply to join here.

Not many people around the world are still actively involved in harvesting olives just two years shy of their 100th birthday. But you can find one man in Croatia doing exactly that. 98-year-old Francesco Bellani is the oldest active olive oil producer in Croatia and this month he was amongst it again as olive harvest took place on his family farm.

Steep price rises for energy and fuel are adding unprecedented costs for producers. Meanwhile, agricultural associations warn drought-induced damage is worse than previously predicted.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP):The International Olive Council (IOC) Thursday said Pakistan possessed huge potential of producing olive oil that would not only help fulfilling the domestic consumption but would also make it a big olive oil exporting country.

This week, France's nutritional labelling system has been debated in the European Parliament, as cheese and olive oil producers demand exemption following poor ratings in the scheme intended to provide clear health guidelines for consumers.

We’re now more than half-way through 2021, and 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!

The price of diesel has skyrocketed in Syria in recent years as a result of the country's devastating decade-long war. But in Idlib province, some have turned to a cheap and eco-friendly alternative – fuel made from the stones of olives left over from the olive oil-making process.

Critida produces exceptionally good olive oil. Its new creation, “ELeni,” is a pure, extra virgin olive oil for children aged six months or older.

Chile produced 25,500 tons of olive oil in the 2020/21 crop year. But despite the bumper crop, exports fell substantially.

Broccoli, olives and chamomile could help in the fight against Covid, University of the West of Scotland (UWS) research has revealed. Studies led by UWS academics, in collaboration with a range of international partners, looked at molecules from various plants; discovering that materials found in olive leaves, broccoli and chamomile contain strong antiviral properties that are effective against Covid.

Judging, Hunter Olive Show 

Olives NZ Focus Grove Project Field Day – Northland, NZ

Field tour, 2022 AOA National Olive Conference & Exhibition – Devonport, Tasmania

15-16 October

2022 AOA National Olive Conference & Exhibition – Devonport, Tasmania

www.nationaloliveconference.com.au 

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

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