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14 October 2022
Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au
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In one case, a farmer lost $175,000 to a scammer after purchasing a second-hand tractor from a fake website. (Spencer Pugh: Public Domain)
Scammers are taking advantage of supply shortages within the agriculture industry, leading to a loss of more than $1.2 million for farmers, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Almost 300 reports of fraudulent sales of tractors and other farm machinery have been made to the ACCC's Scamwatch between January and August this year, a 21 per cent increase in reports made for the same period in 2021.
An important word of warning … please take heed and check sellers’ bone fides before you buy.
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Here we go again. The BOM is urging us to prepare for another sodden summer. (ABC Open: Ryan Fowler Photography)
After multiple years of flooding rains, people have had enough. But the Bureau of Meteorology's severe weather outlook indicates we are going to have to keep picking ourselves back up again this season.
Probably the last thing many of you need to hear right now. Hope you’re all staying safe and away from floods and danger.
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Karin Stark generates 500 kilowatts of solar power for irrigation on her cotton farm. (ABC News: Jess Davis)
Large-scale wind and solar projects may be accelerating across regional Australia, but a new report says smaller on-farm renewable projects are being overlooked in the country's transition to net zero emissions.
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Electric utes, like this Ford F-150 Lightning, are proving popular with tradies overseas. (Supplied: Ford)
For years, Australians have been told that electric utes will never work. Either they'd "end the weekend" and sell poorly - or they simply did not exist. Now, the first models are being shipped.
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COVID restrictions: stay informed
While restrictions have now largely lifted, 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:
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The pipelines replaced open irrigation channels that saw losses of up to 10,000ML each watering. (ABC Rural: Cara Jeffery)
A western New South Wales water efficiency project has achieved water savings of more than 80 per cent by swapping open channels for pipelines, but not everyone is rushing to copy its success.
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Got something to sell? Or want to buy? Go direct to your target market – olive growers and producers
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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.
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Pesticide companies are deeply connected to rural Australia and provide 90% of the budget for the federal regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP.
Multinational chemical firms subsidise agronomists, provide scholarships, sponsor farm safety programs and even fund the pesticide regulator.
And another perspective on the topic …
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Australia’s ambitions to grow its agricultural sector may be hampered by the use of pesticides banned by potential trading partners. Photograph: D-Keine/Getty Images.
As Australia seeks to expand its global agriculture exports, failure to wind back pesticide use will ultimately hurt local producers. Australia wants to turn its agricultural sector into a $100bn a year industry by 2030, a growth target of nearly 20%. But our reliance on pesticides compared with some of our major trading partners could see that ambition thwarted.
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Have your say on the draft National Soil Action Plan | |
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Public consultation is now open on Australia’s first national action plan on soil.
The National Soil Action Plan 2022-27 is a key component of Australia’s 20 year National Soil Strategy and will guide national action on Australia’s soil for the first five years of the National Soil Strategy. It will outline initiatives and opportunities to value, manage and improve Australia’s soil and lay a foundation to help guide policy, investment, research, and program design to achieve the vision and objectives of the Strategy.
You can now provide your feedback on the draft Action Plan, to help ensure the Action Plan is informed, relevant, and practical to support the management of Australia’s soil health.
Find out more and take the survey here.
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Soil samplers and samples sought | |
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Southern Cross University and the Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL) are inviting farmers across the country to participate in a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry soil sampling program.
Farmers and land managers can receive $275 plus GST per sample site (capped at $10,000 plus GST per ABN), towards the cost of soil sampling and analysis, in return for being able to share their data on ANSIS. They can also receive assistance from Commonwealth-funded soil extension officers to interpret their soil test results.
ERF projects are also eligible to participate.
Find out more here, or email soiltest@scu.edu.au or phone 02 6620 3489.
Applications close early May 2023.
And another request around soil …
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Historical soil data needed
Recoup some of your past soil analysis costs! In exchange for sharing your past soil analysis results (prior to 2022) you could be paid up to $200 for each set, capped at $10,000.
Find out more about the Historical Soil Data Capture Payments Program here.
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2022 AIOA Presentation Dinner – the big reveal happens tonight! | |
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We’re now just hours away from the presentation of awards and the announcement of this year’s Best of Australian International Olive Awards Best of Show Winners. Will it be you?
Congratulations in advance to the big winners, and also to those awarded medals in this year’s competition. You all do our industry proud!
Stand by: we’ll bring you news of the winners in next week’s edition of Friday Olive Extracts.
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Waikawa Glen named 2022 NZ EVOO Awards Best in Show | |
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NZ Olive Awards Best in Show – Waikawa Glen Blend, presented by Roberto Zecca to Lisa Buchan and Glenn Wigley.
The winners of the 2022 NZ EVOO Awards were announced last Saturday, with Kapiti producers Waikawa Glen taking the top gong of Best in Show.
Kapiti and Wairarapa producers dominated this year’s competition, winning four of the five major awards for olive oil excellence.
Congratulations to all medal winners, and especially the top award winners:
Best in Show – Waikawa Glen Blend, Kapiti
Best Boutique – The Olive Press ‘Pressed Gold’ Koroneiki, Wairarapa
Reserve Best in Show – Lot Eight Reserve, Wairarapa
Reserve Best Boutique – Southlea Olives, Canterbury
Best Flavoured Oil – Noble Estate Kaffir Lime, Kapiti
We’ll bring you more on the competition and winners in the December ‘Awards’ edition of Olivegrower & Processor.
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The #1 best oil to cook with while watching your cholesterol
To keep you your cholesterol levels in check, and improve your overall heart health, I recommend making olive oil your go-to oil for not only salad dressings and finishing food but also for your primary oil for cooking.
Champions high-heat cooking, BBDs, quality certification and smaller quantity buying for freshness – good consumer information!
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A report found that high-density groves account for 3 percent of cultivation, but 36 percent of olive oil production. | |
Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news | |
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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!
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More clean water for agriculture and horticulture in times of drought
Is it possible to safely use treated wastewater (effluent) from sewage treatment plants (WWTPs) as irrigation water in agriculture and horticulture? A group of water boards, knowledge institutions and companies, led by Wageningen University & Research, have launched a study to investigate how this can work in practice.
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Is climate change coming for your beloved olive oil next?
A world without olive oil seems impossible, or at the very least, much less delicious. But as climate change renders warmer growing seasons and more extreme droughts, affecting grocery store staples, we begin to rethink our agricultural ways. It all begs the question: Is olive oil truly sustainable?
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NARC, olive syndicate warn public of adulterated oil
As the olive season approaches, the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) and the Olive Oil Producers and Mill Owners Syndicate are advising citizens against buying untested olive oil from unlicenced sources.
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Friday Olive Extracts is Published by: | |
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Australian and New Zealand
Olive Industry Directory
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