Water flowing into South Australia has hit a six-year high at 53 gigalitres a day, as a report reveals full storages and wet conditions across the Murray-Darling Basin. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority's (MDBA) Murray River annual outlook, released yesterday, showed southern basin storages are at unusually high levels for this time of year, with the Hume Dam sitting at 95 per cent capacity.

With a change of Australia's federal government in May 2022, there has been a radical shift in the country's position on climate change mitigation and the energy transition. The new Labor government has committed to a carbon emissions reduction target of 43% below 2005 levels by 2030. That target is markedly more ambitious than the previous government's target of a 26% to 28% reduction over the same period. For those doing business in Australia, this policy shift presents both heightened risks as well as commercial opportunities, as Australia accelerates efforts to reach net zero by 2050.

Australia's ability to protect itself from pests and disease is at the centre of a new national strategy agreed to by federal, state and territory ministers. Addressing the National Rural Press Club in Canberra today (Tuesday), federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt released the first National Biosecurity Strategy.

Australia's largest agricultural field days will ban people from attending if they have recently visited Indonesia, due to the risk of foot and mouth disease. AgQuip is due to start next week in Gunnedah in north-west NSW, and usually draws thousands of attendees from across Australia.

With new variants and a new wave of infections spreading across the country, 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:

We've all heard about the skyrocketing price of petrol at the pump, but did you know there's another oil crisis? At the helm of a deep fryer, Teresa Paolini is right across this issue. 

Weeds cost NSW agriculture an estimated $1.8 billion a year, and a new commission could help target the problem, Labor leaders say.

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.

With several governments around the world pursuing limits on nitrogen fertiliser use in agriculture, how would farmers adapt if the Australian government took a similar approach?

Lettuces have crossed the $10 mark, milk prices are being bumped up by the major supermarkets and strawberries are $6 a punnet. Nearly everywhere you look, the price of food and other farmed goods is on the rise. You would be forgiven for thinking this must be a great time for Australian farmers, preferably while gazing out the window at gentle rain.

Want to help shape the future of one of the largest internally draining river systems in the world?

The Lake Eyre Basin (the Basin) is home to unique natural and cultural resources. It covers around 1.2 million km2, almost one-sixth of Australia, and is of conservation significance on a world scale.

The Lake Eyre Basin Strategic Plan (the Plan) will inform the long term vision for the Lake Eyre Basin with a focus on water-related environmental, social, cultural, and economic values, combined with a proactive and adaptive management approach to manage risks. Via collaborative, cross-border management, the aim is to maintain the Basin’s values into the future while supporting economic activity.

The Plan will be developed through consultation with key stakeholders and your feedback is invited to help shape the vision of the Lake Eyre Basin.

Have your say by completing the survey here.

Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB) Euwallacea fornicatus is a new and emerging threat. Native to Southeast Asia, the beetle attacks a wide range of plants by tunnelling into trunks, stems and branches.

PSHB has a symbiotic relationship with a Fusarium fungus, cultivating it inside the tree as a food source for the beetle and its larvae. The fungus kills vascular tissue causing Fusarium dieback and tree death.

PSHB has been detected in the Perth metropolitan area: establishment of this pest would have significant impact on amenity trees, native vegetation, and the fruit and nut tree industries.

Presented by Dr Kylie Ireland, Plant Pathologist, DPIRD Plant Biosecurity Pest Risk & Analytics Team, this presentation will summarise response activities, explore challenges and opportunities present at the urban forest-residential interface, how these are being navigated and how stakeholders can help in the fight to detect and manage PSHB.

While no specific risk from PSHB has yet been recognised for olives, the information and learnings presented are particularly relevant to our industry given the very real risk of a Xylella fastidiosa incursion in Australia.

Webinar: 16 August, 11am AEST

Cost: free

Register here.

LAST TWO WEEKS TO ENTER the 2022 Australian International Olive Awards

Time is ticking by and there are now just three weeks left until entries close for the 2022 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA). Australia’s premier olive competition, the AIOA offers the chance to be named Best EVOO, Flavoured Oil or Table Olive of Show from a growing field of high-calibre international entries – and the promotion which ensues.

The AIOA prides itself on judging excellence, with all entries assessed and awarded on merit and all entrants receiving comprehensive judging feedback. Successful judging also provides eligibility for OliveCare® certification.

Other benefits include a listing in the 2022 AIOA Results Book, a great marketing tool for all medal and award winners, and NEW in 2022, the opportunity to purchase the professional product images taken for the Results Book, which can be used for social media, website and print media purposes.

For the 2022 competition the Best of Show awards for flavoured olive oil and table olives will also now be split into commercial and boutique volume categories, meaning there are now six chances to win a coveted Best of Show award.

Entries NOW OPEN

Entries close: 26 August

Medal winners announced: 3 October (via email)

Major awards announced: 2022 AIOA Gala Presentation, 14 October.

The AIOA offers an unprecedented opportunity for international recognition of winning products and producers. Don’t delay – find out more and enter here. 

The Executive Secretariat of the International Olive Council (IOC) has announced that it will earmark €50,000 to promote olive and olive oil culture in its 45 member countries. The goal is to boost table olive and olive oil consumption by raising consumers’ awareness about their healthy and organoleptic qualities.

A new law provides funds to mark dedicated networks of olive oil roads, including farmers, tourism venues, millers and local municipalities.

The Yuka app will lower the importance of a food item’s Nutri-Score ranking and give more emphasis to micronutrients and additives.

California olive oil production has taken a significant hit as a result of the devastating freeze back in February. President and CEO of the American Olive Oil Producers Association Kimberly Houlding said that production is expected to drop to 1.8 million gallons. Production was three million gallons for the last harvest year.

We’re now well into 2022, 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!

Farmers in southern Spain fear extreme drought and consecutive heatwaves this year could cut olive oil output in the world's largest producer by nearly a third in the 2022/23 season.

Acesur, which supplies the UK's biggest supermarkets, told the BBC this would feed through into prices in shops in the next three to four months when companies renew their contracts.

Upgrading technology, improving techniques and promoting sustainability are at the core of efforts to add value to Italian olive oils.

AOA webinar: Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer in WA

Entries open, WA Olive Awards

Entries close, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

Olives NZ Focus Grove Project Northland field day

Entries close, 2022 NZ EVOO Awards

Results announced, 2022 Royal Adelaide Olive Awards

Entries close, 2022 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW

Entries close, WA Olive Awards

Olives NZ Processing Practices seminar – Canterbury, NZ

Medals announced, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

Awards presentation, 2022 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW

Olives NZ Conference and Awards Dinner – Wellington, NZ

2022 Olives New Zealand Conference – Wellington, NZ

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

Awards Dinner, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

2022 AOA National Olive Conference & Exhibition – Devonport, Tasmania

Awards Night, WA Olive Awards

SA Olive Festival - Nangkita Olives, Fleurieu Peninsula

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

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