Protected software controls everything on a modern tractor from GPS to auto steering. (ABC Great Southern: Mark Bennett)
The 'right to repair' movement has finally bent the ear of Australia's competition and consumer watchdog, the ACCC, in its pleas to be able to fix their own farm equipment. An ACCC inquiry will examine whether international tractor manufacturers are failing Australian farmers who want access to software tools and parts to repair their own machinery.
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Some of Perth's most affluent suburbs have been placed in quarantine but it has nothing to do with coronavirus. An outbreak of the destructive Queensland fruit fly has prompted the West Australian government to set up a quarantine zone in Dalkeith and parts of Claremont and Nedlands to stop the spread of the pest, which is not established in the state.
WA growers will be relieved the zone isn’t wider, as it requires the removal of fruit including olives!
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Daniel Connell - Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
A report released today investigating how states share water in the Murray Darling Basin describes a fascinating contrast between state cultures – in particular, risk-averse South Australia and buccaneering New South Wales.
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Response to the latest report into the Murray-Darling Basin has ranged from claims it's provided clear information about a complex issue to it being described as a waste of taxpayers money.
And the water discussion continues …
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Large amounts of water available for irrigation contradict claims from NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro that farmers had been sacrificed for the environmental objectives of the "failed" Murray Darling Basin Plan.
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The federal government’s agricultural research body, Abares, has sought to debunk fears that Australia could run out of basic foodstuffs such as rice and wheat, though it says it is possible there could be temporary disruptions to supply chains due to Covid-19.
Unfortunately, some people are already … can you help?
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Foodbank call-out for producer support
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Foodbank helps vulnerable Australians access food and groceries in times of crisis. COVID-19, and the resulting mass unemployment being experienced across the country, is placing huge strain on the Foodbank network and it needs supporters’ help now more than ever. Donations from retail supporters, food and grocery manufacturers and farmers are helping to bridge the gap, but demand for food is rising at a rate never seen before.
If you are a grower and aren’t already donating surplus or out-of-spec product to Foodbank, and are in a position to support – no matter what the quantity is or where it’s located – please contact the Foodbank Australia team today at
supplychain@foodbank.org.au.
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Theo and Matt are both
SELLING OLIVE EQUIPMENT
and they’re letting olive producers know through the OliveBiz Classifieds
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Your circumstances have changed and you’ve got equipment you no longer need but there’s undoubtedly another producer out there for whom it would be ideal. Let them know about it through the Olivebiz Classifieds – THE intra-industry way to sell, buy and source. If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, our online Classifieds service is an easy and inexpensive solution to advertise your unwanted equipment, extra oil or even your grove – like Theo, who has
production and warehouse equipment
for sale, and Matt, who’s selling a
large OFM olive sorting machine. 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.
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.
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Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted significant elements of both food supply and demand - border closures, quarantines, and restrictions are causing disruption across the entire supply chain. Despite these challenges, the pandemic has not compromised overall food security. Here in Australia, it's largely business as usual for agriculture, although some sectors have been hit.
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An online marketplace is helping connect consumers with local food and beverage producers for online orders and deliveries. Peak industry body Food SA set up the directory on its website and sister site Eat Local SA, to help consumers across the state find businesses able to deliver.
Connecting consumers with local producers to ensure they get healthy food for a good diet – let’s hope EVOO and table olives are in that mix!
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IFAM export freight service providers appointed
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A network of 15 air freight service providers and freight forwarders has now been established to accelerate delivery of agricultural and fisheries exports into key overseas markets through the Federal Government’s $110 million International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM). The mechanism aims to reduce the impacts of COVID-19 on the Australian agricultural and fisheries sectors, covering a portion of the airfreight costs and ensuring exporters can get their produce on flights and to international customers quickly. Over 560 Australian businesses have already registered their interest and agreements for 55 freight flights have already been secured.
Exporters need to be registered to access IFAM: you can complete the form
here. Note: if you submitted an EOI before 16 April you will need to re-submit the form with additional information which will inform IFAM priority air freight routes.
Find out more about the IFAM
here.
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Ag industry engagement on COVID-19
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is changing the way we live and work, and the agricultural industry is no exception. Australia’s agriculture industry is essential to our country’s food security so keeping it strong and viable is a priority, with a strong partnership between industry and government more important than ever before.
Which means high-quality communication and collaboration is critical, so it’s time to share knowledge and ideas. To enable this the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has set up an engagement team specifically for the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.
Mark Tucker is the Senior Agriculture Engagement Officer leading the team and the pivotal, single point of contact between industry and government. He’s already working closely with stakeholders and peak bodies on issues surround Covid-19 to ensure industries’ ideas and perspectives are considered in government decision-making, and to maintain agriculture production and supply chains.
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AOA Webinars zoom in on productivity and profitability
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The AOA has developed a series of weekly webinars in response to the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on the industry’s productivity and profitability program.
Open to all olive levy payers, the webinars will run on Zoom from 12:30-13:30 on Tuesdays for one hour max, with a 30 min presentation followed by up to 30 mins live Q&A and participant discussion. Each webinar will be recorded and made available on the
OliveBiz website for reviewing or if you can’t make it to the live event.
Beginning on 5 May, the first webinars will cover the
application of cutting-edge remote sensing in the Australian olive industry and will be presented by members of the olive industry remote sensing research team.
From 26 May the focus will move to
key elements and insights for a successful on-line marketing business. Designed for those who have had to adapt their sales models due the CV19-induced collapse of food service and “farmers” markets, the webinars will be presented by Lauren Hamilton from Digital Narrative, whose presentation and workshop on digital marketing at 2019 National Conference were a hit with delegates.
Further webinars planned for July-August will cover
EVOO processing, exporting and the
Australian Table Olive Standard. The schedule for these webinars will be advised in June.
The webinars are free but registration for each event is required. Registration details will be emailed to levy payers next Tuesday, 28 April.
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Spain's leading non-profit focused on agribusiness is deploying and testing a series of new early detection methods, biocontrol programs and biostimulants to help stem the spread of two deadly olive tree pathogens.
While in another part of the Northern Hemisphere …
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Strict national measures take effect today to safeguard the UK from a range of plant health threats, in particular the devastating disease caused by Xylella fastidiosa. The regulations include more stringent import requirements to protect UK plant health against threats to natural habitats and forestry and horticulture industries.
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Italian olive oil production in the 2019/20 crop year amounted to nearly 365,000 tons, a higher total than previously expected, according to the latest report by the Institute of Services for the Agricultural and Food Market (Ismea).
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Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news
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With 2020 now well 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!
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The European Council has approved a free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Vietnam. The FTA is expected to come into force during the summer of 2020, after it is passed by the Vietnamese National Assembly. Once approved, existing tariffs on olive oil in all of its fractions will be eliminated.
A substantial increase in sales of olive oil is one of the upsides.
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As the number of coronavirus cases closes in on one million and the death toll approaches 100,000 in the European Union, the 27-member trading bloc’s agricultural sector is proving resilient.
A substantial increase in sales of olive oil is one of the upsides.
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The Greek deputy minister of agriculture stirred up controversy last month when she suggested restricting the use of the Kalamata Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) solely for olives grown in the region of Messenia, on the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula.
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Under the auspices of a new organization, Pakistani olive oil producers are preparing to enter the global market. Hundreds of thousands of trees have been planted in the last 10 years and most are now growing in regions which experts consider to be well-suited for olive cultivation.
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has updated their policy decision analysis database (FAPDA), which shares insight into how decision makers in the global food and agricultural sectors are addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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2020
23-25 April
2020 London International Olive oil Competitions – London, UK
May
2020 NYIOOC – New York, USA
5 May
AOA Webinar Series, Event #1 - Australia
12 May
AOA Webinar Series, Event #2 - Australia
9 -12 May
Berlin Global Olive Oil Competition 2020 – Berlin, Germany
18-10 May
EVOO-IOOC – Palmi/Calabria, Italy
19 May
AOA Webinar Series, Event #3- Australia
20 May
Entries close, Olive Japan 2020 International EVOO Competition – Tokyo, Japan
26 May
AOA Webinar Series, Event #4 - Australia
1 June
Deadline for entries, 15th China International Olive Oil Competition – Beijing, China
2 June
AOA Webinar Series, Event #5 - Australia
9 June
AOA Webinar Series, Event #6 - Australia
20 June 20
Winners announced, Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition – LA, USA
1 July
Entries open, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards
September TBA
World Team Tasting Championship
4 September
Entries close, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards
11 September
Entries close, 2020 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW
5 October
Results emailed to entrants, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards
16-18 October
AOA National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition – Devonport, TAS
22 October
Awards Presentation, 2020 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW
2021
16-17 February
evokeAG. – Perth, WA
23-25 March
Soil CRC Participants Conference
7-9 June
Hort Connections 2021 – Brisbane, Qld
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Friday Olive Extracts is Published by:
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Olivegrower Communications:
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Olivegrower & Processor
March Issue
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Australian and New Zealand
Olive Industry Directory
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