9 January 2026

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Today's top story

Heatwave and fire threat forecast for NSW, Victoria and SA as temperatures nudge all-time record highs

A large swathe of the country will again bake through 40 to 45 degrees Celsius heat today, as a scorching north-westerly airstream from the outback strengthens and stretches the hot airmass from northern WA back to the Victorian coast.

Australian heatwave live

Track the temperatures
How to avoid heatstroke and when to call Triple Zero

Australia

Aussie farmers cautiously optimistic for the year ahead

By Laura Thomas

Australian farmers are cautiously optimistic for the year ahead, according to latest industry data.

Unsurprisingly, rising input costs and ongoing drought remain the primary concerns for those living on the land.

Find out more

Bureau releases summary of Australia’s climate in 2025

The Bureau of Meteorology has published its preliminary key summary for Australia's temperature, rainfall and water resources in 2025.

Truck driver shortage looms as industry looks to refresh an aging workforce

The trucking industry faces a declining number of drivers who shift about 75 per cent of Australia's total freight. 



A safety and road advocate highlighted a change in culture and punishing fines as factors deterring younger drivers. 

AOA Classifieds

Got something to sell? Want to buy?

If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, you can reach your target market directly with our grower-to-grower service - AOA Classifieds.

Our online classifieds are 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!

Classifieds start from as little as $44 for AOA members ($110 for non-members) and are online now at www.australianolives.com.au/classifieds

For details, rates, or to create a classified, hit the button below.

Women have fought hard to be recognised as farmers. There’s still more work to be done

When we think of an Australian farmer, we often still conjure up an image of a bloke in a hat, perhaps leaning on a fence post.

Connecting climate, data, and farmers behaviour in agricultural economics

Navigating modern agricultural challenges requires more than experience, it demands data, insight, and an understanding of human decision-making.

Hunt for escaped red-whiskered bulbul that has SA's fruitgrowers worried

With its striking black mohawk and red cheeks, the red-whiskered bulbul could be mistaken for a bird-watchers' delight.

But instead, this bird has become one of South Australia's "most wanted", prompting concerns for the state's $2 billion horticulture sector and highlighting what the Invasive Species Council calls a gap in the nation's biosecurity.

International

Tunisia emerges as global olive oil powerhouse, filling void left by climate-hit europe

Tunisia is dramatically reshaping the global olive oil map, leveraging a record harvest and strategic state promotion to reclaim a position of dominance not seen since antiquity. 

Scientists identify Xylella-tolerant olive varieties and test heat treatments

The BeXyl project has identified olive varieties with greater tolerance to Xylella fastidiosa and reported early results from an experimental thermal treatment against the bacteria.

Olive growing and carbon credits in 2026: here are the net gains!

An interesting agronomic and economic analysis of carbon credits generated by olive groves: an exciting opportunity, but not a given.

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And please remember this is YOUR e-newsletter and we’re keen to receive your news and help spread the word. Just email Laura at comms@australianolives.com.au - it’s free and the best way to reach your fellow industry members!

The wild olive: How ancient Greek trees are rewriting the world’s understanding of medicinal olive oil

Thousands of years ago, perhaps in the time of Christ or even earlier, a bird flew over the mountains of southern Greece.

It plucked an olive from a tree in the valley below, ate the flesh, and carried the pit skyward.

'These trees may not survive’: Jordan’s ancient olive harvest wilts under record-breaking heat

Extreme heat and drought has destroyed 70% of Jordan’s olive crop, endangering livelihoods of 80,000 families and a centuries-old tradition

Early data points to weaker olive oil production across Andalusia

Farmers across Andalusia are reporting lower olive harvests and weaker oil yields early in the 2025/26 season, raising fresh doubts about Spain’s production outlook.

How to protect olive trees from intense cold and snow

The severe weather that has hit the Italian peninsula, with cold, snow, and wind, has caused olive growers to worry about potential damage to their trees. Here are the risks and defense strategies.

Calendar 2026

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