Tractor cybersecurity breach; Final Focus Grove field day; Competitions closing soon

19 August 2022

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

Today's Top Story

BOM declares La Niña alert, signalling strong chance of another sodden summer

The BOM's ENSO outlook has moved to a La Niña alert, indicating a 70 per cent chance of one forming in the coming months. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)

The odds of there being a third sodden summer in a row have shortened now the Bureau of Meteorology has declared a La Niña alert. Renewed cooling in the tropical Pacific Ocean and models indicating La Niña is likely during spring and early summer have prompted the BOM to raise the El Niño Southern Oscillation Index scale to "alert", the last step before an official La Niña.

Australia

Hacker Sick Codes says cybersecurity in agtech is no game after viral John Deere tractor hack

Australian hacker Sick Codes says farmers reached out to him after his demonstration at DEF CON 30 went viral. (Supplied)

An Australian hacker has fired a warning shot at the security of computerised farm equipment after breaking into the controls of a John Deere tractor to install the video game DOOM.

And more important information on cyber-security issues …

Apple warns of security flaw for iPhones, iPads and Macs

If you're an Apple user and haven't updated your software for a while, you have an urgent task to do, with Apple reporting software flaws relating to security content of iOS 15.6.1 and iPadOS15.6.1.

The software issues could potentially allow trackers to take complete control of these devices, with the company saying it's "aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited."

Security experts say users with these devices should update their software ASAP:

iPhone6S and later
iPad Pro (all models)
iPad Air 2 and later
iPad 5th generation and later
iPad mini 4 and later
iPod touch (7th generation)
Mac computers with MacOS Monterey

Healthy outlook for Australia’s food bowl

A new Westpac agribusiness report into intergenerational farming has revealed more than three quarters (77 per cent) of farmers are optimistic about the future of farming, at a time when Australians continue to flock to the regions.

Murray-Darling Basin report card shows state targets 'slipping behind' as water-saving deadline nears

MDBP chief executive says NSW's water resource plans are "firmly in the red". (Supplied: The Nature Conservancy)

With just two years until water-saving deadlines of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, New South Wales is at high risk of not meeting its responsibilities. A new report card by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) shows that as of the end of July, New South Wales had formally submitted one of 20 water resource plans required to set out how water is used across catchments.

COVID restrictions: stay informed

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:

Vic- https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/
ACT - https://www.covid19.act.gov.au
New South Wales - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
Queensland - https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/
South Australia - https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/
Tasmania - https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/
Western Australia - https://www.wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus

Biosecurity Collective welcomes National Biosecurity Strategy release

The founding partners of the Biosecurity Collective have welcomed the release of Australia’s first National Biosecurity Strategy, which marks the start of transformative change to the Australian biosecurity system. The release of the Strategy completes the first step of the Biosecurity Collective’s five-point plan, which also aims to establish 2021-2030 as the Decade of Biosecurity.

Got something to sell? Or want to buy? Go direct to your target market – olive growers and producers

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Olivebiz Classifieds are online now at www.olivebiz.com.au/classifieds. To arrange a listing, contact Gerri at editor@olivegrower.com.au.

AgSkilled to put growers behind wheel this harvest with ag training

After another successful year in 2021, AgSkilled is again offering the opportunity for fee-free heavy truck driver training and licensing courses to those who work in New South Wales’ plant-growing agricultural industry sectors including grains, fibre, rice, viticulture, horticulture and agrifutures industries.

Hypothetical exploration a success

The National Fruit Fly Council (NFFC) recently hosted an exercise with a difference. Almost 90 stakeholders in Brisbane and Melbourne participated in an hypothetical exercise to explore potential trade disruptions if Australia’s fruit fly distribution were to change and what it would mean for industry.

Opportunities

Consultation Draft: NSW Biosecurity and Food Safety Strategy 2022-2030

The NSW Government is developing a biosecurity and food safety strategy to better protect the state’s economy, environment, and community against growing biosecurity and food safety threats; whilst creating opportunities for future growth of the primary industries sector to $30 billion by 2030.

Feedback on the consultation draft of the NSW Biosecurity and Food Safety Strategy 2022-2030 is invited by 1 September 2022: find out more and complete the online feedback form here.

2023 Science and Innovation Awards - grants to realise big ideas for agriculture from young rural innovators

Grant applications are now open for the 2023 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. If you’re 18-35 and want to make a difference for Australia’s agriculture industries, this is your chance to apply for a grant of up to $22,000 to fund your project.

The Science Awards support young innovators, scientists, researchers, extension officers, industry advisers and others actively engaged in the agriculture sector who have an original project that will contribute to the ongoing success and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture industries.

Find out more and apply here.

Nominations open for QLD Agriculture Awards

Nominations are now open for the Queensland Government’s 2022 Peter Kenny Medal and Minister’s Emerging Leader Award, celebrating the passionate innovators and key influencers in Queensland’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector.

Candidates may work in agribusiness, education, farm-based production, the supply chain, research or advocacy, or an associated field.

Nominations close 5pm Friday, 2 September. Find out more and apply here.

Events

LAST WEEK TO ENTER the 2022 Australian International Olive Awards

Time is ticking by and there are now justis now just ONE WEEK BEFORE 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.

New award categories

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.

Key dates

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.

Major sponsors

New Zealand

2022 NZ EVOO Awards - Entries closing soon

Entries for the 22 NZ EVOO awards are arriving steadily and final entries are anticipated to top 120, consistent with numbers since 2016.

Have you submitted your entries yet? All members should have been sent entry packs; if you need yours re-sent, please contact the Executive Officer at admin@olivesnz.org.nz.

Entries close 30 August – submit yours now for the chance to be awarded Best of Show at New Zealand’s premier olive awards.

Note: those waiting on Certification results can enter by leaving the class blank. The entry will be processed when Certification results are received, with your classed confirmed based on polyphenols.

Northland Focus Grove Project field day

Previous Northland FGP Field Day

A 'catch up' field day in Northland is being held on 30 August, replacing the scheduled Focus Grove Project visits which were unable to be held due to COVID and flight issues in 2021.

The day will start with a project wind-up lunch at Mangawhai Tavern, Mangawahai at 11.30am - please RSVP attendance to Linda Smith at linda@olivesonthehill.co.nz.

Find out more about the Focus Grove Project here.

Time running out for 2022 Olives NZ Certification – submit your oils NOW

Despite many Olives NZ members reporting a poor or no harvest, a good number of oils have been submitted for Certification this year. Results so far are showing excellent quality, with some high polyphenol levels and very low FFAs.

The last day for submission of oils for 2022 Certification is 31 August, so if you haven’t submitted yours yet, get cracking!

Find out more about Certification here. Members can contact the Executive Officer at admin@olivesnz.org.nz for a personalised pack.

International

Experiment with North African olive varieties bears fruit in Croatia

One producer has found that his Chemlali and Moroccan Picholine trees are thriving in Dalmatia’s increasingly hot and dry climate.

French olive sector anticipates 50 percent harvest loss

Scorching summer temperatures and the region's prolonged drought have resulted in a significantly lower fruit set in France and a significantly smaller harvest.

How to light a charcoal grill (without lighter fluid)

You don't need a chimney, lighter fluid or a flame retardant onesie to light a charcoal grill. All you need is olive oil and a paper towel.

A new market for out-of-date olive oil, perhaps?

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

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!

Thousands of olive trees destroyed by wildfires in Tuscany

High temperatures, windy weather and dry soil served as a catalyst for the estimated 279 wildfires burning across the central Italian region.

One-third fewer olive farms in Italy now than in 2010, report finds

Increasing international competition and quickly changing market dynamics have profoundly affected the Italian agricultural landscape in recent years. Small family farms contribute less than they ever have to overall agricultural output.

Grapeseed oil vs. olive oil: which one is healthier (and which one should I cook with)?

In case you missed it, not all cooking oil is created equal. When it comes to comparing the pros and cons of the various options, though, it can get quite complicated. Take grapeseed oil vs. olive oil, for example. Can they be used interchangeably? And is one better for you than the other?