Regional infrastructure was a big theme in the 2022 Federal Budget – along with water and a carbon credit tax break. The Budget allocates an additional $135.6m over 5 years to support the NFF’s ambition for a $100b industry by 2030. 

Criminals are turning to increasingly sophisticated and risky tactics to steal fuel from regional farms and businesses, as desperation grows over the rocketing price of oil.

Workers from Vietnam will be the first to be employed on Australian farms under its fledgling agriculture-specific visa program. Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said the first memorandum of understanding (MOU) under the Australian Agriculture Visa Program had been signed with Vietnam.

With fertiliser prices reaching never-before-seen highs and the cost of fuel soaring, Australian farmers are struggling to keep up with the cost of production. In the past week alone, the cost of raw materials has risen 10 per cent.

Keen anglers and campers will have first-time access to new picturesque campsites on Crown land along the Goulburn river, north of Melbourne. The detail has been a long time coming, but the Victorian government has finally named the first six sites where public access will be granted on Crown land river frontage licensed by farmers. 

The latest edition of ABARES Insights provides a detailed analysis of Australia’s future agricultural trade advantage, focusing on the need to keep Australian agricultural exports competitive.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) is the research arm of the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE), and provides independent data, research, analysis and advice to inform decisions affecting Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

The new analysis provides a reminder that we need to think about all avenues to improve our trade advantages. Read more here. 

With infection numbers rising again, it’s increasingly important to keep up with the status of pandemic regulations across the country. You can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:

WA’s biosecurity laws could soon be overhauled, with the State Government announcing a review of its 15-year-old Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act. A six-member panel has been appointed to carry out the review, which started this month and is expected to be completed by March next year.

It's an all family affair when it comes to harvest time at one small olive grove in Tasmania's Central Highlands. Shelley Triffett, a former teacher's aide turned olive grower, says it's all hands on deck for the extended family in the middle of winter when it's time to harvest the olives by hand.

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.

Mass spectrometry technology, that can identify microorganisms in under a minute, is being piloted by DAWE biosecurity scientists to more rapidly identify high-risk plant pathogens and mosquitoes intercepted at Australia’s borders.

With daylight saving ending this weekend, South Australia’s fire services are reminding everyone to change their smoke alarm batteries as they wind back their clocks by one hour. 

It’s a great annual tradition (because who remembers otherwise!) and if you have elderly family or neighbours living alone, offer to fit new batteries for them too – because working smoke alarms save lives.

There’s more information and advice about smoke alarms is available on the MFS website here.

The National Farmers’ Federation and Australian Rural Leadership Foundation are ready to connect more farmers and industry professionals through the Drought Resilience Leaders Mentoring Program.

Over 400 people are currently in the program, which provides the opportunity to share knowledge and experience. Through the program, you’ll also gain insights from industry leaders, helpful resources and mentor training.

The national program is open to all involved in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Both mentors and mentees are being invited to join the program, with applications open until 19 April 2022.

Explore new ideas and go outside your boundaries: join the Drought Resilience Leaders Mentoring Program and get connected with a mentor or mentee.

Find out more and apply here.

The dates have been announced for this year’s Western Australian Olive Awards Competition, as follows:

Entries open: Monday, 22 August

Entries close: Monday, 5 September

Awards Night: TBC (pencil in 20 October)

More information: www.oliveswa.com.au

Join Farmers for Climate Action as they tour across the Goulburn Valley, stopping in Seymour, Euroa, Kyabram, Shepparton, Echuca and Yarrawonga. At each event they’ll chat over snacks and drinks about what Farmers for Climate Action is all about, celebrate what has been achieved already and discuss plans for the future. 

The sessions are also a great opportunity to meet like-minded farmers from around your local area.

Details:

More information and RSVP here.

There are just a few remaining places for this year’s must-attend industry learning event, the annual AOA Olive Oil Processing Workshop, so if you haven’t booked yet the time to sign up is now.

Returning as a face-to-face event, this highly-acclaimed and comprehensive program will be delivered by international master olive miller, Pablo Canamasas, and 2019 and 2021 AIOA Best of Show winners, Peter and Marlies Eicher of Salute Oliva. 

The course covers every aspect of processing quality olive oil, from grove management for optimal fruit quality to best-practice processing and storage. 

Along the way you’ll learn a lot about olive oil chemistry, and the practical aspects of oil extraction. 

Wednesday 13 April and Thursday 14 April 2022

Boort Resource & Information Centre and Salute Oliva, Victoria.

*Pre-event webinar, 8 April, 8.00am - 12.00pm (AEST)

Cost: Members & levy payers: $250 inc GST, Others: $350 inc GST. Includes all meals.

More information and register here or for more details contact Liz Bouzoudis - secretariat@australianolives.com.au or 0478 606 145.

Olive growers in New Zealand expect good results from the coming harvest season. Local farmers confirmed that fruits are already dotting the trees in most groves, and this year’s harvest appears to be larger than the previous two.

Licorice Flavor Olive is being recalled because it may contain sulfites. Anyone who is has a severe sensitivity to sulfites may have a serious or life-threatening reaction if they eat this product. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this item. The recalling firm is A&C Best Food Trading Inc. of Long Island City, New York.

The oil from the latest harvest of wild Lun olives will not be a sensation. “There was no real harvest at all, and the little fruit that was harvested is not for top results,” said Želimir Badurina, president of the Lun Olive Cooperative on the island of Pag, with palpable sadness in his voice.

Poland and Russia have always fought over the authorship of the name and of the first production. We are talking about the vodka. From today, however, it will be Liguria to be able to boast of having created a 100% Made in Italy variant of the famous distillate. It’s called Olioo and it’s the first vodka in the world with extra virgin olive oil.

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!

Yesterday 22 March the executive director of the International Olive Council (Coi), Abdellatif Ghedira, met by videoconference the European Commissioner for health and food safety Stella Kyriakides, to discuss the Nutriscore issue.

Italy starts the spring season affected by drought in the northern part of the country and higher than expected temperatures during the winter months. Authorities estimate a water deficit between 50%-90% compared to 2021, with particular declines in the Piedmont and Veneto regions.

Have you ever seen an older person so full of life and youthful energy that you've thought to yourself, "what's their secret?" That's the exact question Eden's Gate asked themselves when they decided to research the world's oldest people to learn more about the lifestyle choices that helped them live record-breaking long lives.

AOA Olive Oil Processing Workshop -Boort, Victoria

Olives SA/WEA seminar, Tasting and appreciating EVOO – Adelaide

Entries open, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

Hort Connections 2022 – Brisbane

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

Entries open, WA Olive Awards 

Entries close, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

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

Entries close, WA Olive Awards 

Medals announced, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

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

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

2022 AOA National Olive Conference & Exhibition – Devonport, Tasmania

Awards Night, WA Olive Awards 

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