04 August 2023

Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au

Today's Top Story

European heatwave, poor Australian growing conditions could drive olive oil prices higher

Olive oil prices have increased due to challenging domestic and international growing conditions. (ABC Great Southern: Sophie Johnson)

Record olive oil prices are expected to rise further as low domestic yields and a northern hemisphere drought continue to impact supply. A European heatwave has suppressed international supply from Spanish and Italian producers, while mild conditions on Australia's east coast have slowed down the ripening of fruit.

Australia

And more commentary on the topic:

Olive oil expert warns consumers to expect elevated olive oil prices

Olive oil prices are rising on a mix of supply disruptions and they are likely to remain elevated for another 12 months, a leading industry expert has warned. Olives South Australia president Steve Pantelos said Europe’s summer drought had hit producers in Italy and Spain and low domestic yields for Australia’s east coast growers had reduced supply, pushing up prices for consumers at the checkout.

Australia thaws in mid-winter warmth - is winter over?

The world is sizzling and Australia's winter is just one of the casualties. July, the middle of the Northern Hemisphere summer, is on average the hottest month of the year globally and satellite data shows that July 2023 was the world's warmest month on record … For Australia unseasonable warmth has been building for weeks, and a lack of cold fronts since late July has allowed temperatures to climb up to 10 above average for eight consecutive days.

Bureau of Meteorology declares El Niño 'likely in coming weeks' but still not ready to say it's underway

Sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific have met the BOM's threshold for El Niño, but the atmosphere hasn't yet. (ABC News: Chris Lewis)

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has announced an El Niño event is "likely in the coming weeks", but has again held off declaring that it is underway, despite having satisfied its own criteria.

And here’s how people are dealing with the (possible) prediction:

We just take the good with the bad': Farmers and rural communities optimistic as dry El Niño weather looms

Queensland farmer "Sno" Harm has seen many El Niño weather patterns in his 50 years and "can't really prepare" for the next one, but remains hopeful for rain.

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 - like Ilias, who has a Sicma F3 harvester for sale. 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.

Wanted - Australian EVOO

We are looking for a supplier of Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil in larger volumes on a long-term supply basis.

To discuss further please contact Brian Dominic - email Brian@Dominicwinesestate.com or call 0418 832 001.

Could an Alibaba push to cut carbon emissions create opportunities for Australian businesses in China?

Key points: Alibaba is encouraging Chinese consumers to make more sustainable choices and cutting its carbon emissions. Experts say the move is in response to growing popularity of low-cost competitors. Food Leaders Australia says Alibaba's new focus will open doors for Australian companies.

GROWER TO GROWER

Have a question? Need some advice? Ask a fellow grower!

Dave is planting in a small grove (120 trees on 6 x 5m spacing) in NE Tasmania, planning to graze sheep in the grove and may need to mow also. He’s keen to set everything up to limit problems.

How does he set up irrigation droppers or sprinklers so they don’t get damaged by animal or machine - “Is subterranean irrigation an option or do I suspend the drip line (like in a vineyard)?”

He’s planting 3-4 year old trees so the emitters may need to be moved as the trees grow.

If you can offer some experiential advice, please contact Dave at djnicholson99@outlook.com

Feral deer impacts on agriculture, vehicles, trains prompt calls for better management

Feral deer numbers are increasing in Australia. (Supplied: Limestone Coast Landscape Board)

A figure has been put on the damage bill as the march of wild deer continues across Australia, including deeper into suburbia. A draft National Feral Deer Action Plan last year estimated feral deer numbers across the country to be between 1 and 2 million, which represented a 10-fold increase over 20 years.

Tractor sales cool, as farmers splurge on new headers for harvest

Farmers are restocking their sheds with headers this year, while many are parking plans for a new tractor. It is a big change from last year when farmers splashed more than $2 billion on 19,000 new tractors - a record spend that was last seen in the 1980s.

Contract Olive Pruning - Riverland Pruning & Harvest

All aspects of olive pruning - tree training,

re-shaping, re-juvenate,

pruning for shaker or hand harvesting.

All tools supplied.

Fully licensed and insured.

Servicing all areas of SA and VIC.

Contact Rajab – 0469 718 719

rajabnassiri510@yahoo.com

Opportunities

New concessional tax treatment of carbon abatement income for primary producers

From 1 July 2023, eligible individual primary producers can access tax averaging and concessional tax treatment for certain income from their eligible carbon abatement projects. They may also qualify for concessional tax treatment for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) they receive from their eligible carbon abatement projects.

Eligible individual primary producers include:

sole traders
individual partners in a partnership comprised solely of individuals
individual who are beneficiaries of a trust carrying on a business of primary production.

This change applies to eligible income from carbon abatement projects, such as from the sale of ACCUs, first held on or after 1 July 2022, and certain income from carbon service providers who carry out carbon abatement projects for eligible primary producers.

More information here .

Fixing Farm Erosion Plans

Do you have an erosion problem on farm that you just can’t work out how to solve? Do you need a plan to help get your production back on track?

Growers in the NSW North Coast Local Land Services region are invited to submit an expression of interest to receive a plan for an erosion problem that is impacting farm production. Successful applicants will have a specialist consultant visit the erosion site to provide tailored management advice, which may also include an initial design and estimate of costings for remediation works.

Today, 4 August, is the last day to submit EOIs - so if you’re interested, get writing now!

More information and submit your EOI here.

Events

Consumer usage and attitude tracking webinars

The Hort Innovation data team is hosting two webinars to share the latest consumer insights for vegetables, and fruit, dried fruit and nuts.

The date has been produced through the company’s multi-industry project Consumer usage and attitude tracking 2022/23 (MT21202), which examines what Australians think, feel and do in relation to fresh produce. A survey of more than 800 Australians per month covers everything from what we plan to buy, why we don't buy, what we think about different categories, and much more.

Vegetable session - 7 August, 11am-12pm (AEST) - RSVP here.

Fruit, dried fruit and nuts session - 9 August, 11am-12pm (AEST) - RSVP here.

AOA Webinar: Managing Olive Lace Bug

Olive lace bug remains an important pest for the Australian industry and has recently been a major problem for many locations in NSW (particularly Hunter Valley) and southern Western Australia.

One of the reasons has been the weather patterns that have favoured survival of the initial (and in some cases, later) generations of developing bugs. This means that monitoring and implanting management practices for the first generation is critical in reducing later-season problems.

This webinar addresses these issues, as well as providing opportunities for growers to discuss this and other olive pest problems.

Presented by: Dr Robert Spooner-Hart, Research Associate Professor of Sustainable Plant Production Systems, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University.

Details:

Tuesday 15 August, 11.00am AEST - FREE. Register here.

This webinar series is part of the Olive levy project Australian olive industry communications and extension program (OL22000), funded by Hort Innovation, using the Hort Innovation olive research and development levy, co-investment from the Australian Olive Association and contributions from the Australian Government.

2023 AIOA entries now open - last weeks for entries

The 2023 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) is now open for entries, with less than a month to go until the closing date of 1 September.

Australia’s premier olive competition, with increasing international recognition and status, the AIOA provides benefits for entrants including:

Entries individually assessed and awarded on merit.
All entrants receive comprehensive judging feedback.
Successful judging provides eligibility for OliveCare® certification.
Unprecedented opportunity for international recognition of winning products and producers.
Official AIOA Results Book, providing a great marketing tool for all medal and award winners.
The opportunity to purchase high-resolution professional product images for use in social media, website and media purposes at only $35 plus GST.

Find out more and enter here.

“I work so hard and it’s just wonderful to get something for all the hard work. I put my heart and soul into it, and I think it’s paid off with this award…and it’s expensive to make, so the boost in sales is such a bonus. Instead of three bottles, now people will ask for 12 – when it’s won Best in Show, it makes a great present.”

Liz Tonkinson, Leisal Rose, 2021 AIOA Best of Show EVOO

New Zealand

Extreme weather causes decline in New Zealand olive oil production

oil producers have reported a decline in yield and volume for the second consecutive year due to extreme weather conditions. The combination of early frosts, heavy rainfall, and anthracnose has resulted in a lower harvest for olive growers across the country.

International

Türkiye's Kilis aims to elevate olive oil output amid drought

Derived from centuries-old trees in the region and exported mainly to Arabic countries and the United States, Kilis olive oil obtained from the oil-rich olive trees unique to the province in Türkiye's southeast now sets its sights on the European market.

Olive oil producers in Greece brace for steep production decline

Warm weather, low fruition levels and the emergence of the fruit fly pose significant challenges to olive oil producers towards the next harvesting season.

And they don’t even mention the tens of thousands of olive trees destroyed in the recent wildfires.

Aluminum bottle provides new option for olive oil

California Olive Ranch adds a lightweight, recyclable aluminum bottle to its range of packaging options for its edible olive and avocado oil portfolio.

It’s always good to note what’s being done across the industry, and contemplate possible suitability for your own products. Here’s more information about aluminium as a packaging option:

Listen: unPACKED Sustainability Series: Pt. 2 - Aluminum

Aluminum is the topic for part two of a six-part sustainability sit-down with Packaging World editors Anne Marie Mohan and Matt Reynolds. Mohan and Reynolds cover sustainability and packaging materials daily for Packaging World and rank among the most knowledgeable in the industry on current trends and breakthroughs. The pair discuss how aluminum could be infinitely recyclable and why the general public embraces—or at least appears to embrace— aluminum recycling more than other materials.

Sustainable farming is key to quality as California becomes hotter and drier

Investing in renewable energy, drip irrigation and organic practices helps the producers behind Spanish Oaks Ranch achieve award-winning quality.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

The year is racing by and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) continues 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!

Extra virgin olive oil prices could reach €11/kg in Italy, officials warn

New estimates for Italy’s 2022/23 crop year show a 27 percent decrease compared with the previous campaign. The yield at the end of the crop year in September is expected to remain at 241,000 tons, and the first forecasts for the coming 2023/24 crop year show signs of improvement.

While elsewhere the outlook is not quite as gloomy …

Olive oil producers in Argentina beat the heat, enjoy fruitful harvest

After three below-average harvests, producers in Argentina expect a return to the norm. However, inflation continues to create problems for domestic sales and exports.