To reach net-zero and bring down power bills, state and federal governments have promised to fast-track the delivery of high voltage transmission lines to incorporate more renewable energy into the grid. But with thousands of kilometres and billions of dollars in investment needed, the farmers in the firing line are calling for a rethink on how the spoils of the transition are spread across the land.

New South Wales farmers say they are doing everything possible to prepare for blackouts as power supply issues loom, but some say it may not be enough. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has warned of possible power interruptions, with maximum power load interruptions in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Days of power shortages across the country have prompted the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to intervene in a desperate bid to shore up the country's power supply. For the first time ever, AEMO suspended the spot market for wholesale electricity across the entire country. It says this is the best way to "ensure a reliable supply of electricity" in what it called a challenging time.

Thirteen turned out to be a lucky number for Australian producers who combined to earn nine Gold Awards and four Silver Awards at the tenth edition of the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

While most restrictions have eased across the country, it’s still important to keep up with the remaining pandemic regulations for particular situations. You  can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:

Businesses that run roadside fruit stalls and pick-your-own farms fear new regulations proposed by the New South Wales Government could shut them down. That is despite claims by NSW Planning that they are trying to make it easier for farmers, not harder.

Australia's new agriculture minister confesses that many will be asking, "who is this bloke?" Murray Watt, a lawyer turned politician, told more than a thousand producers in his home town of Brisbane last week that while he wasn't a farmer, it was in his blood.

Brad Wedlock is thrilled with the positive change the work is making. (ABC Rural: Jennifer Nichols)

Twenty years ago, Brad Wedlock despaired over the state of Queensland's Mary River at Kenilworth, where every flood cut away thousands of cubic metres of farmland, releasing sediment to smother the southernmost section of the Great Barrier Reef. 

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.

Your feedback is needed for a national research project which is working to showcase the diverse occupations and opportunities in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries.  

Recognising that the agricultural sector has changed significantly, and perceptions are outdated, the survey seeks to understand your career journey and will use the information gathered to create a digital map of modern agriculture jobs and career pathways to be published by the National Careers Institute on the YourCareer website. 

Help put your job on the map – take the survey here.

Navii is funding 500 Australian small businesses to receive 12 months of digital support to improve their online presence and sales. The Digital Launchpad program is fully subsidized and includes $1,265 worth of support to the first 500 eligible Australian small businesses.

The program is for:

Find out more and apply here. 

To help farmers get the seasonal workers they need, the Western Australian Government is offering a bonus travel and accommodation rebate worth up to $3,860 to Australian residents who relocate more than 100kms to regional WA for work.

Working Holiday Maker visa holders are also eligible for up to $2,180 in subsidies through the Regional Agriculture, Tourism & Hospitality Workers Travel and Accommodation Support Scheme.

More information here. 

Presented by soil and composting guru John Barton, known to many from his inspiring presentations at the AOA’s Healthy Soils Field Days, this FREE webinar will cover:

Thursday 23 June, 11.00am AEST via Zoom - FREE for all attendees.

Register here. 

With the harvesting and processing olive season coming to an end for many growers around Australia, it is an ideal time to be considering bottling and storage considerations of EVOO:

These questions and more will be covered in this webinar on EVOO shelf life prediction, presented by Claudia Guillaume, oil scientist and manager of the Modern Olives Laboratory.

Wednesday 22 June, 11.00am AEST

Cost: Free

Register here

The 2022 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) is now open for entries, offering the chance to be named Best EVOO, Flavoured Oil or Table Olive of Show from a growing field of high-calibre international entries.

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. 

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.

Entries open: 1 June

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. 

Further details have been announced for the 2022 NZ EVOO Awards, the country’s premier industry awards run by Olives New Zealand.

2022 Awards Facilitator - Kay McMath

Judging Panel - Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay (Head Judge), Abhijit Paul, Charlotte Connoley, Raffaela Delmonte, Hilary Fenemor, Peter Coubrough, Ed Scott and Roberto Zecca.

The time required to ship judging packs to Australia has seen a change in the submission period for entries this year, with the estimated timeline being:

1 August - Awards entries open

10 or 17 August - Judging seminar by Zoom Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay

31 August -  Awards entries close

8 October - Awards Dinner, Rydges Wellington Airport Hotel – held in conjunction with the 2022 Olives NZ Conference.

Awards information packs will be sent to all eligible members in July and full details are now available from the Olives NZ website here. 

*Note: Growers are urged to submit oils for Certification ASAP to ensure results are back in time for Awards entry.

For more than a decade researchers and growers have been exploring the potential efficacy and economic impact of developing a commercial-scale olive industry in Florida as the state’s iconic citrus industry continues to face challenges stemming from citrus greening disease.

A three-year-long European Union-funded project has shown that olive, fruit and vine growers can efficiently contribute to developing a carbon credit market focused on agriculture, creating new opportunities for farmers and producing beneficial effects for the environment.

I'll admit, I'm not a big martini fan. Maybe I'm just too young to have acquired the taste James Bond has for them, but they always give a slight dish water flavor. But I do love a snack in my drink.

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!

Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan Andreas Ferrarese on Tuesday said that Italy was investing in a project worth €1.5 million for olive cultivation and growth in Pakistan. The Ambassador said that Italy had always played a vital role in helping Pakistan to develop olive cultivation and technical expertise.

Webinar - EVOO shelf life prediction

Webinar: Reducing Nitrogen costs with soil carbon

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

Central NSW Olive Workshop - Monivae, NSW

Entries open, WA Olive Awards

Entries close, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

Entries close, 2022 NZ EVOO Awards

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

Entries close, WA Olive Awards

Olives NZ Processing Practices seminar – Canterbury, NZ

Medals announced, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

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

Olives NZ Conference and Awards Dinner – Wellington, NZ

2022 Olives New Zealand Conference – 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

Subscribe to Olivegrower & Processor magazine secretariat@australianolives.com.au