The olive harvest is in full swing and many Victorian producers are celebrating their biggest and best crop to date. Peter and Marlies Eicher have been producing the bitter fruit for more than two decades on their property in Boort in Central Victoria. After a failed crop last year, the pair were gobsmacked at just how many olives are on the trees.

International students in northern Queensland say they are keen to help ease the labour crisis on farms but warn not enough people know about the job opportunities to draw a workforce large enough to make a difference.

An outback roadhouse owner wants grey nomads to become the new backpackers; with the workforce so slim this season, they were considering reducing their opening hours.

Apple picking has a long history in Tasmania and has typically been back-breaking work, but new conveyor belt technology is designed to take the pain out of it.

Images of the mouse plague that has gripped parts of New South Wales in recent months are enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable. But experts are concerned the plague is taking a much more significant toll on those who are living through it, with the mental health impact being compared to that experienced by people during natural disasters including bushfires and drought.

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.

Kendra Kerrisk single-handedly prunes all 780 trees on her olive grove – for at least five hours a day, over three to four weeks. It’s a labour of love for this first generation farmer, who swapped life as a scientific researcher in Sydney for life on the land back in 2018. At that time, the young Kerrisk family bought a farm near Coolamon, NSW, and took on a share farmer. In 2014, they purchased another property named ‘Pleasant Valley’, which boasted a once award-winning 12-acre olive plantation.

Australia's vaccine rollout has hit a few speed bumps, and many of us are still unsure when exactly we'll get the vaccine. Add in reports of incredibly rare dangerous blood clots linked to vaccines, and it's understandable that Australians have a lot of questions.

Continuing COVID leaks mean 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:

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how critical a robust biosecurity system is to the health of Australians, the environment, and the competitiveness of key industries. The recently released CSIRO Australia’s Biosecurity Future report demonstrates that transformational change to Australia’s biosecurity system by 2030 will better protect our people and home.

Read more here and access the report Australia’s Biosecurity Future: Unlocking the next decade of resilience here.

The first public report on implementing the Murray-Darling Communities Investment Package is now available. The report shows how the $270 million investment is advancing to deliver practical support to Basin communities through on-ground environmental projects and other initiatives that drive economic activity.

The Communities Investment Package centres around three key themes:

All themes deliver on the Government’s promise to put communities at the heart of the Basin Plan, and to end water buybacks.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment will report on the Communities Investment Package three times a year. You can view the first progress report here.

The ACCC has released its final report on the inquiry into markets for tradeable water rights in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). Investigating the governance, architecture and operation of MDB water markets, the report was developed using extensive research and community input over an 18-month period and includes 29 wide-ranging recommendations on: 

The report highlights the importance of ensuring water markets work effectively and are underpinned by good information quality and access, rules and governance, and trading behaviours and processes.

The ACCC is now engaging with Basin states and stakeholders to develop a response that supports water users and communities and to ensure any reforms are feasible and cost-effective.

Access the report here. 

The Indian economy is liberalising fast and will pass the US$3 trillion mark in 2021, according to the International Monetary Fund. Rapid growth has triggered opportunities in agriculture, technology, resources, healthcare and infrastructure. To aid exporters, Austrade has launched a major new program, the Australia India Business Exchange.

More information here.

Submissions are now open for the 2021 Circle Awards, bringing together businesses, organisations, projects and people that are adopting circular practices to create a world where nothing goes to waste. 

Winners will receive recognition from a world-class judging panel for their contributions to shaping the circular economy, along with opportunities to connect and collaborate with a community of like-minded people. The winner of the People's Choice award will also receive a media package worth $25K. 

Submissions are open to individuals, small groups of collaborators, companies or individuals working within companies. Categories include Food and Drink, Events, Art and Design, Lifestyle and Technology, Health and Beauty and Fashion. Find out more here.

Applications close Friday 14 May 2021 (early bird until 11 May 2021).

This two-day soil biology masterclass will provide you with the core knowledge and principles to assist in incorporating soil biology and health in management practices to sustainably increase productivity and profitability. 

Learning how to harness the life in your soils for better farming outcomes, participants will: 

Details: 4-5 August 2021, Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Campus - $395, including tour of WSU research facilities and networking dinner.

This is an ideal program for keen and innovative growers seeking to understand the benefits of soil biology as a driver of healthy crops and healthy foods in sustainable production environments.

Register here by 18 June 2021.

 

The City of Greater Bendigo is running a series of free, online workshops until June 2021 tailored specifically for rural residents who may have experienced significant impacts on their health and wellbeing in recent years.

Funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, the workshops aim to raise awareness of mental health issues and help the development of resilience in rural communities.  

Future events are: 

Occasional Counsellor webinars - 2-hour sessions teaching simple, practical strategies for assisting individuals who are sad, upset, bewildered, angry or confused. Facilitator: David Cherry.

May 13 and 20 – book here

Rural Minds Briefing - a relaxed way to learn about mental wellbeing and resilience for your community, family, friends, and yourself. Facilitator: Deb Smith 

May 6 and June 1 – book here

Grounded Thinking – a healthy mindset for profitable and enjoyable farming - tailored specifically for farming families to help them feel more in control of their own destiny, worry less and capture the profit opportunity each farming season presents. Facilitator: Dr Kate Burke, Think Agri 

May 25 – book here.

In their second look at the Whole Foods Market olive oil department, the Tasting Team from OliveOil.com finds both some real treats and some disappointments in the 47¢ to 87¢/oz category. In a blind tasting these 5 expert olive oil tasters rank the extra virgin options.

Pesticide residues found on olives grown, processed and marketed within the European Union in 2019 mostly fell well below the legal limits, according to a report from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). The latest EFSA report shows contaminant levels on olives among the lowest of all foods available to consumers.

Sophia Loren is known to bathe in it, but did you know EVOO may be even better for you when consumed? Discover the health and beauty benefits that come with daily extra virgin olive oil intake.

In a bid to cut costs and move to high-density farming, Spanish olive growers are cutting down and selling older trees as garden ornaments or firewood. The move comes as a result of increased competition from outside of the Mediterranean, where modern techniques and younger, more productive trees are threatening the status quo.

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!

In a season where 220,000 tons were produced, Turkey has stopped bulk olive oil exports until the end of next October.

Entries close, 2021 Sydney Fine Foods Olive Show 

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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