National Farmers Federation Chief Executive Tony Mahar says the green light for a major fertiliser manufacturing plant in regional Western Australia is hugely positive news. “Today’s announcement by the Federal Government of the granting of major project status to a urea processing facility, is exactly what is needed to propel Australia’s self-sufficiency when it comes to critical inputs.

A CQUniversity-led tech team hopes its prototype device can help Australian businesses combat an escalating cybercrime crisis, which cost the nation a staggering $33 billion last year. Project lead Biplob Ray said the sheer scale of losses showed an urgent need to improve protection for small and medium-sized businesses from relentless cyber attacks that preyed on human error.

Veterinarians in north-west Queensland are concerned after the region recorded what is believed to be its first locally acquired case of ehrlichiosis. The bacterial disease, spread through brown dog ticks, was first recorded in Australia in June 2020 and can be deadly to dogs if left untreated in its early stages.

With the Omicron variant sweeping across the country, 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:

A Victorian region is getting proactive about circumventing the labour drought in horticulture with a new employment website. The Yarra Valley Seasonal Employment Hub is a free service helping to connect local horticultural businesses with much-needed job seekers.

Researchers say Australia's agricultural workforce is vastly underestimated, with the number of employees contributing to the economy potentially double what was previously thought.

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.

Mapping: DPIRD and Pomewest are working on a project to evaluate the application of digital canopy mapping technology, seen here mounted to a buggy at the department's Manjimup Research Facility, to assist orchard management in WA.

A project will evaluate the effectiveness of orchard mapping and monitoring technology to see if it has commercial viability for Western Australian orchards. 

A central Victorian farmer has been given just four days' notice that Crown land he is licensed to manage will be accessible to campers and anglers. Bryan Meredith farms at the property 'Marengo' on the banks of the Goulburn River near Seymour, north of Melbourne.

A plan to erect hundreds of wind towers in New South Wales north west has been questioned by some farmers. The state government announced last year the New England region would become the state's second renewable energy zone (REZ) and called for tenders to generate 8 gigawatts of power.

As COVID-19 cases continue to cause disruptions and rules around close contacts change, businesses are finding themselves looking for ways to manage teams, keep up production and keep everyone safe.

To assist growers, Growcom has hosted three webinars to provide the latest advice, information and resources so that your business can continue operating as smoothly as possible through the pandemic.

Created in partnership with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the video recordings are now available and cover:

#1 - Critically essential roles & business continuity planning

#2 - COVID-19 vaccinations & the workplace

#3 - Risk mitigation in the face of COVID-19 & creating a safe workplace to continue producing safe food.

Find out more and access the recordings here.

The commercial nitrogen fertiliser market has been very volatile the past seven months. Supply issues from China, Russia, as well as Europe, have caused shipping issues and shortages for all of Australia. Given the price rises and uncertainty of nitrogen fertiliser supply, it's a good time to look at legume cover crops. 

Get the low-down on legume cover crops in a new informative article by Soil Wealth ICP team members Dr Kelvin Montagu and Marc Hinderager here.

In 2019, Australian farms emitted around 76 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions. As the effects of climate change become evident and the reality of border taxes become more likely, the pressure is on to manage carbon at a farm level.

This half day forum explores carbon neutrality in agriculture how to apply it to local farming systems, with expert speakers from the CSIRO, PIRSA and the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board discussing the opportunities and limitations of carbon farming.

Details:

Thursday, 17 February from 12-5pm

Bowhill Sports Centre, Bowhill SA 

Attendance is free. Find out more and register here.

Authorities in central Italy have given the go-ahead for the removal and burning of an almond tree which was first found infected by Xylella fastidiosa last October. The infection caused alarm since it was the first such outbreak in the Lazio region.

Fourteen restaurants of the historic municipality of Marvão (Portalegre) will participate in the 17th edition of the gastronomic fortnight of Comidas d'Azeite, an initiative that in 2021 was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The charity SEO/BirdLife and Caja Rural Foundation have joined together to study centenary olive groves in the Somontano region of northeastern Spain. The goal of the study is to develop measures that foster biodiversity in the ancient olive groves and add value to the traditionally-produced olive oil of the small region of Aragón, known primarily for its wines.

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!

The European Commission is piling pressure on the United States to remove the tariffs imposed on Spanish ripe table olive imports in 2018. Brussels’ pressure on Washington comes in the wake of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) November 2021 ruling that said anti-subsidy tariffs were illegal.

If the only thing stronger than your love for your partner is your love of olives, this Sonoma hotel is offering the most romantic package imaginable - and it's available to book way past Valentine's Day. The Lodge at Sonoma, an Autograph Collection hotel has debuted "Olive You to Sonoma and Back," a romantic getaway celebrating love and the bounty of the Sonoma Valley. 

Olive trees have an extraordinary ability to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. A new project in Italy plans to reward olive growers, promoting best farming practices and sustainability while offering small and large enterprises a viable solution to offset their carbon footprint.

Identifying traits that allow olives to resist extreme weather events, volatile temperature changes and diseases will allow farmers to plant more resilient olive varieties in the future.

Researchers from Spanish and Italian universities have identified a simpler and cheaper method to authenticate extra virgin olive oil’s geographical origin.

ABARES Outlook 2022 Conference

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Nelson

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Canterbury

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Northland

Olives New Zealand 2022 Annual General Meeting – Online

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Wairarapa

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Hawke’s Bay

AOA Healthy Soils Field Day – Wagga Wagga, NSW

Entries open, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

6-8 June 

Hort Connections 2022 – Brisbane

Entries close, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

Medals announced, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

Olives NZ Conference and Awards Dinner – Wellington, NZ

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

Awards Dinner, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

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

Advertising: editor@olivegrower.com.au

Subscribe to Olivegrower & Processor magazine secretariat@australianolives.com.au