The lakes and dams are full, the crops bountiful, and birds and fish are returning, but a reckoning is coming for Australia's largest river system. Delivery of the $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan, arguably one of the country's largest and most ambitious environmental reforms, hangs in the balance with just two years to go before major water-saving deadlines must be met.

Water stakeholders in South Australia have vowed to fight any changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) after an interstate politician cast doubt over aspects of the interstate agreement.

The floods that devastated parts of south-east Australia last month revealed, yet again, this nation's growing insurance problem. Assessment of the damage was agonisingly slow, and rising premiums meant many victims were completely uninsured.

Fruit fly outbreaks in SA’s Riverland area last year created difficulties for growers trying to send olives out of affected areas for processing into oil. Hard work and negotiations led by Olives SA and AOA board member Kent Hallett eventually saw manageable protocols in place but it was pretty touch and go for some producers.

That experience has resulted in a more organized system this year, and PIRSA now has a policy for moving fruit for processing into oil. Growers will not have to treat fruit, just comply with reduced requirements – full details available here.

Protocols for movement of olives for table processing are currently being finalized and we’ll update as soon as they’re signed off.

Growers with any continuing problems around fruit movement can contact Kent Hallett on 0428 829 024.

Robots once heralded as the future of Australian agriculture have arrived and are helping to solve farmers' labour woes and cut costs as they become more affordable.

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:

Anzac Day has come and gone and with it the traditional deadline for the autumn break. So who got the rain and who missed out? 

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.

The New South Wales government admits the market has turned its back on building new coal mines and has turned its focus to expanding existing operations as it rules out more exploration zones.

RMCG is working with AgriFutures Australia to support the Pre-Farm Gate Waste Program, collaborating with Australia's primary industries to better understand and identify the options to improve their waste management. 

If you work in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and forestry, you’re invited to complete a survey to help capture current waste volumes and practices, and increase the knowledge of cross-sectoral waste issues in the industry. 

The survey is focused on pre-farm gate waste and all information collected will be kept strictly confidential. This baseline data will be used to empower industry in making informed decisions and investments to better access options for improved waste recovery and management.

Complete the survey here. You can also complete the survey via telephone: please call Jacqui Longford at RMCG on (03) 5441 4821 or email jacquil@rmcg.com.au

The Whittlesea Food Collective is this week starting its first olive harvest celebration, bringing people together to learn new skills with an olive theme. The olive harvest will feature five main activities, beginning today and finishing on May 14 with a celebration of the City of Whittlesea’s olive harvest and community wellbeing.

A ground-breaking olive cultivar research project is now underway, led by Professor Stan Kailis and supported by Olives WA and the Australian Olives Association.

A major aim is the production of an "Olive Cultivar Passport" which could assist producers in identifying olive varieties based on the shape of the fruit, the stone, and the tree – saving hundreds of dollars on expensive DNA analysis. 

The research will also provide participants with valuable feedback on their trees, including whether the cultivar is actually what the producer believes, and an assessment of tree health and plant quality.  

With 2022 harvest samples starting to arrive from WA producers, Professor Kailis will present some preliminary findings on samples received to date, and explain other ways producers can participate and contribute.  

Details: 19 May, 7.30pm (WA)

RSVP here entries@oliveswa.com.au to register.

Italian authorities have earmarked €50 million to help private businesses plant new crops in destroyed olive groves and improve overall biodiversity in the region.

After evaluating the results of bat reintroduction across the Iberian peninsula, the LIFE Olivares Vivos+ project announced the expansion of this initiative due to the combination of effective olive pest reduction and the subsequent ecological and financial benefits stemming from reduced use of artificial pesticides and fertilizers.

Two million and 300 thousand liters of irregular oil they were discovered thanks to 183 checks carried out throughout Italy by the Guardia di Finanza and the ICQRF of the Ministry of Agricultural Policies as part of the “Verum et Oleum” operation to protect Italian extra virgin olive production.

However, some experts believe the chemical coating, usually Teflon, on Le Creuset's non-stick pots and pans is the real culprit. 

By coincidence, we’ve already included the real truth about this ‘myth’ in the next edition of Olivegrower & Processor, with research by the Modern Olives Laboratory presented by the Olive Wellness Institute. If you’re not already a subscriber you can sign up here. 

The creators of Nutri-Score have criticized the possibility that products with Protection Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the European Union could be held exempt from the front-of-pack-labeling system.

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!

One olive farmer on the Croatian coastal island is revitalizing olive trees by building an environment to protect and nurture them.

The latest report from the United Nations panel warned that more needs to be done to accelerate the trend of slowing emissions, especially in the agricultural sector.

02-May-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with a combination of hydroxytyrosol from olives and punicalagin from pomegranates may reduce LDL-cholesterol levels in adults, says a new study.

Argentina’s national olive germplasm bank is one step closer to assuming the status of a world olive germplasm bank within the network established by the International Olive Council (IOC).

Olive Cultivar Research Webinar

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

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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