The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has reset the El Niño Southern Oscillation outlook to inactive, meaning the 2020-21 La Niña is over. BOM climatologist Naomi Benger stressed, though, that it did not mean it would be all blue skies for the foreseeable future. 

In little more than 12 months Paula Grey's dairy farm in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, has been threatened by fire, emaciated by drought and inundated with floodwater.

What does it mean when a natural disaster is described as a "one-in-50-years" or "one-in-100-years" event? Well, not what most people think and that has to change, according to a leading risk assessment expert. Thomas Mortlock, from consultancy Risk Frontiers, said "100-year floods" don't just happen once every 100 years. In fact, 100-year floods have happened twice in a fortnight in the same place.

A small group of Vanuatu nationals are again working legally on a sweet potato farm in Bundaberg, but the whereabouts and visa status of more than 30 others remains unknown. Last month Vanuatu's High Commissioner to Australia revealed details about an employment dispute involving 51 workers who were no longer employed under the federal seasonal worker program (SWP).

Leleige Fetui has been travelling to Australia for the past five years to work the apple and pear harvest in Shepparton. The Samoan national says the conditions are good and there's money to be made.

Inspectors visited growers to ensure they were complying with occupational health and safety regulations, staying COVID-safe and supporting vulnerable workers as part of the three-day operation late last month. The visits were designed to help growers have a safe harvest and give workers confidence that workplaces were meeting their obligations.

The recent lockdown in Queensland has shown that it’s important to keep up with the changing status of pandemic regulations. You can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:

New South Wales farmers say they are unsure what a new koala protection policy will mean for them. Details of the new policy were unveiled yesterday after the NSW Liberals and Nationals made a deal on koala protection which gives more concessions to farmers.

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, extra oil - or even your grove. 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.

Australia has a new legislative framework for agricultural exports, which began on 28 March. Made up of the Export Control Act 2020 and Export Control Rules 2021, the new legislation streamlines existing export requirements that were previously in 20 Acts and 40 items of legislation.

If you are involved in exporting plants and plant products, the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Rules 2021 set out the specific requirements you need to follow. More simply known as the plant rules, they replace the current Plant and Plant Product Orders, and there are some key changes you should be aware of.

Access more information here .

There are renewed concerns about a commonly used herbicide so deadly that just one sip could kill you. When Julie Terry's severely autistic son Damien accidentally drank a herbicide containing the chemical paraquat in 2017, she was told he had 12 hours to live.

In January this year, the Making Better Policies for Food Systems report was released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report recognises the ongoing stress on our food systems, which must address the triple challenge of providing nutritious food, livelihoods, and better environmental sustainability.

Read more here and access the report here.

Applications are now open for the 2021 Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program (DiALP), an opportunity designed for aspiring female leaders 25 years and over with a passion for agriculture. 

The Program is supported by leading agriculture-focused organisations which have joined with the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) in committing to make meaningful change towards gender diversity within the leadership ranks of their industry.

The Program matches successful applicants with a mentor for a mentorship running from May to October 2021. 

More information and apply here.

Nominations are open for Hort Connection 2021's annual National Awards for Excellence, which will be presented during the event on Wednesday, 9 June.

Recognising outstanding contributions that individuals and companies make to the Australian horticulture industry, the awards cover a range of areas in horticulture across multiple categories, and are open to growers, researchers, innovative agribusinesses and exporters.

More information and nominate here.

The Olive Wellness Institute (OWI) turns three this month and the team are keen to gain feedback from you, the industry members who grow the amazing products their work centres around.

In short, they want to know what you’re finding useful and interesting, and what else you’d like to see or have provided into the future, to help with their continual improvement and to ensure they are working towards the overall project goals – increasing awareness and promotion of olive products in Australia. 

They’re capturing that feedback in a quick five minute survey (it doesn’t actually even take that long!), to make sure their offering keeps improves into the future and provides information relevant to your needs.

It’s a great way to help plan the future work of the OWI – and they’re even throwing in the chance to win a $50 Coles Myer gift voucher as a thank you.

Access the survey here and share your feedback now – we’re all in this together and your thoughts are really important to the OWI team.

The Royal Tasmanian (formerly Royal Hobart) Fine food Awards will once again be held in 2021.

This year’s event will proceed in five sections over five months, replacing the previous format of one major judging event, allowing for more seasonality of entries, closer attention to individual categories, and a more COVID-safe approach.

The name change also reflects a greater directional change, recognizing the awards as a significant food industry event attracting entries nationally.

Key dates: 

Olive Oil and Major Awards Judging – 3-4 September          

Entries open - July 21

Open to food manufacturers, producers and brand owners, further details are available on the competition website here.

Many business owners turn to exporting to expand their business, diversify their revenue and extend market reach. The current disruptions to global markets have shown that only the most agile, and informed companies can adapt their strategies to the changing environment.

The Export Fundamentals Workshop takes you, step by step, through each of the key areas relating to goods exporting to help you understand some of the key challenges and develop a one-page Export Plan that will support you in kick-starting, rejuvenating or consolidating your export business.

Key learning outcomes will include:

The Workshop will be delivered over two sessions, the first a half-day face-to-face event in the Barossa at 9am on 21 April; the second via Zoom on Friday 23 April 2021 from 9:30am-12pm (ACST). Sessions at other locations are also available.

More information and register here or email exportSA@aigroup.com.au.

For sale - Trevi Olive Estate

More information here 

View agent’s website here

The Spanish table olive sector urged its government to make progress on removing all tariffs. The U.S. warned Spain's new digital service tax could lead to new ones.

31-Mar-2021 By Hank Schultz

The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program has published a guidance document for one of the most commonly adulterated ingredients of all: olive oil.

Efforts in Puglia and Andalusia are underway to monitor the spread of the deadly vector of Xyella fastidiosa. Using mobile applications, volunteers will help experts track the insect populations.

With 2021 now underway, 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!

As part of its training and technical cooperation activities to encourage research and strengthen the skills of technical managers in the olive sector, the International Olive Council (Coi) plans to award four scholarships for the master's degree in Olive Growing and Oil Technology in 2021.

In response to a pro-Nutri-Score petition signed by hundreds of scientists, Italian politicians and farmers have united in opposing to the French labeling system while promoting its alternatives.

29-Mar-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

Spanish hydroxytyrosol extract producer Genosa has partnered with leading food packaging firm Tetra Pak for the development of a functional extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) with a high content of naturally occurring polyphenols.

A lack of cooperation throughout the sector is hurting producers’ bottom lines, according to an agricultural institute study.

There are healthy foods that taste awful and unhealthy foods that taste divine. Then there's authentic extra virgin olive oil, or as intimates refer it: EVOO - which tastes divine and boasts seemingly unlimited health benefits — if, indeed, it's authentic. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.

Entries close, Berlin Global Olive Oil Awards – Berlin, Germany

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Hawke’s Bay

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Northland

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Canterbury

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Nelson

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day - Wairarapa

Entries close, OLIVE JAPAN 2021 International Olive Oil Competition

Registrations close/samples due, EVO IOOC – Palmi, Italy

Farm2Plate Exchange 2021 – Scenic Rim, Qld

Winners announced, OLIVE JAPAN 2021 International Olive Oil Competition

Hort Connections 2021 – Brisbane, Qld

Entries open, Australian International Olive Awards

Entries open, Royal Tasmanian Fine food Awards

Entries open, Hunter Olive Show

Entries close, Australian International Olive Awards

Entries close, Hunter Olive Show

Awards night, Hunter Olive Show

Results announced, Australian International Olive Awards

2021 National Olive Conference & Trade 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

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