World Olive Tree Day was proclaimed at the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2019 and takes place on 26 November every year.

Conserving and cultivating the olive tree is a growing imperative as the world combats and adapts to climate change. The aim of World Olive Tree Day is to encourage the protection of the olive tree and the values it embodies, in order to appreciate its important social, cultural, economic and environmental significance to humanity.

Today (yesterday by the time you read this!) is expected to be the peak of what has already been a thoroughly drenching system. According to Jackson Browne, senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology, a low pressure system sitting around the South Australian border region north of Broken Hill is forecast to edge in a south-easterly direction over the next couple of days.

It has been dubbed the most prestigious olive competition in the southern hemisphere and now Rosslyn and David Kemp can say they are champions of it. The pair from Tawarri Grove, located at Orange, NSW, took out the gold medal in the 'reserve champion mild extra virgin olive oil' class at the Australian International Olive Awards and Mrs Kemp couldn't be happier.

Reducing complexity and improving confidence and trust in the water market will be the focus for a newly appointed Murray-Darling Basin advisory group. The group of eight consists of technical experts, water market users and stakeholder representatives.

The country is gradually opening up but with different boxes to tick in every state, so it’s 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:

In the top paddock of her cattle farm in what some locals call the 'regen region', Karen Jarling is making 'worm lasagne'. Layering a rich mix of cow and horse manure, mushroom compost, and rock mineral, she added composting worms and covered them with mulch.

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.

Australia’s International Business Survey 2021 gauged how exporters were impacted by and managed the difficult trading conditions in the last 12-18 months. The 683 survey respondents included businesses that exported goods and services into 110 markets overseas.

Download the full report here. 

Eligible visa holders, including working holiday makers and international skilled workers, will be able to enter Australia from Wednesday, 1 December. The move aims to address the agriculture labour workforce shortage exacerbation since border lockdowns began in March 2020.

An update to the agricultural occupation classifications will benefit agricultural workforce, businesses, and industry by improving key data underpinning government programs and services. The ANZSCO update, developed in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, aims to bring a more targeted approach to meet agricultural workforce demands.

In a global first, Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group has partnered with the United Nations System Staff College. Together they will train 200 people to become circular economy leaders and help Victoria meet the Victorian Government’s circular economy plan Recycling Victoria: a new economy targets.

Applications for the innovative course are open now and close 10 December. Find out more and apply here.

A soil in good condition consists of around 50% solid matter; this includes organic matter. The Soil Wealth ICP fact sheet provides guidance on readily available water (RAW) and soil texture, as well as healthy soil conditions.

Access the fact sheet here. 

It took a bit of patience due to the ongoing lockdown restrictions but the organisers of the 2021 Hunter Olive Show were finally able to hold a Covid safe judging day.

Show convenor Alan Smith said they had a record number of entries from a record number of groves, with entries coming from across New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. 

They’ve all been appraised and the results will be announced at the official awards night, being held on Thursday, 9 December at Tintilla Estate Wines, 725 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin. There will be a light dinner to follow and a chance to taste the winning oils and olives.

All entrants and supporters are welcome. For catering purposes, please RSVP to Alan Smith at treasurer@hunterolives.asn.au.

The University of Tasmania’s Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness: Masterclass in Horticultural Business offers a unique opportunity to enhance your skills, or those of your employees, in running a profitable and sustainable farm business. Join the Masterclass team for this online information session to learn more. 

Details: Tuesday, 30 November @ 7-8pm AEDT. More information here or email hort.bus@utas.edu.au.

The recent disruptions caused by the pandemic have revealed that companies must be agile to adapt and survive. Many business owners find they can do this by exporting, helping to grow their business, diversify their revenue and reach more customers.

In this face-to-face workshop, you’ll be given specific advice to assess how your business can start selling across the globe, and how to tackle the barriers that hold you back. You’ll also learn the steps to develop your own Export Plan.

Details:

Wednesday, 8 December - 9am-4:30pm ACDT.

FREE – more information and register here.

Competitive grant funding from $5,000 to $15,000 is available to help small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) export into a new market.

Find out more and apply here. 

Join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade, ECA and private sector experts to get insights on how to do business in Vietnam. Discussions will cover Vietnam's economic outlook and commercial opportunities, as well as tips on navigating its administrative systems.

Details: Thursday, 2 December - 3-4pm AEDT.

FREE – more details and register here.

The Italian Agriculture minister continued to denounce how Nutri-Score grades local specialties, while drumming up support for an alternative.

The World Trade Organization said the U.S. violated international trade rules when it imposed anti-subsidy tariffs on European exports of Spanish olives. 

As the situation in northern Jordan’s fertile agricultural regions looks increasingly dire, three organizations are stepping in to promote traditional and sustainable farming methods.

We’re nearing the end of 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 American Heart Association (AHA) has published its latest dietary guidance to improve cardiovascular health. The AHA guidance lists 10 dietary features that improve cardiometabolic health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, from eating plenty of fruits and vegetables to limiting the intake of alcohol.

Eating a plant-based diet may have the potential to “completely eliminate” chronic migraines, a study has suggested.

Italy leads the way in social olive farming with projects in Tuscany and Molise that focus on quality, protecting biodiversity and social inclusion of marginalized groups. 

The Old Olive Tree in southern Montenegro is thought to be the oldest in Europe and the third-oldest in the world.

OSA/Woodside Farm grove rejuvenation visit – Woodside, SA

2021 Hunter Olive Show awards night – Pokolbin, NSW

Olives NZ Conference and Awards Dinner – Wellington, NZ

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

15-16 October

2022 AOA National Olive Conference & 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

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