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02 February 2024
Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au
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Farmers may drive their unregistered vehicles up to 100 kilometres from their homes to fight fires during the trial. (ABC Riverina: Lucas Forbes)
Farmers are no strangers to protecting their homes from bushfires and have welcomed a new trial that will abolish expensive registration fees for private firefighting vehicles.
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Farmers shun Coles, Woolworths amid grocery price anger as ACCC launches probe
Ross Marsolino has been feeding Aussie families for more than 40 years with the eggplants, tomatoes, and zucchinis he grows in northern Victoria. But the Toolamba producer said he was losing money when he sold his vegetables to supermarkets.
Looks like the good old farmers market stand is the best bet for many olive/EVOO producers. And how good is this event, reminding people of where their food comes from and connecting consumers with the hard work of farmers:
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Chloe, Abby and Hugh Thomas from Eungella Shorthorns with bull Tony under the Harbour Bridge on Australia Day. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Nikki Short.
There were wild scenes in Sydney as farmers brought the country to the city, with working dogs rounding up cattle and sheep under the looming silhouette of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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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.
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What happens when experts in engineering, agriculture, marine and terrestrial microbiology join forces? They develop a company that drops nutrient encapsulated seedpods from a drone, mapping out their placement using artificial intelligence and monitoring their growth using GPS.
Fascinating science in action, with current projects including restoration to ecosystems damaged by natural disasters such as floods and fires.
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A surge in detections of the Indian myna, or common myna, has raised concerns that one of the world's most invasive birds is expanding its territory in Australia. The bird, not to be confused with the Australian noisy miner, has been spotted moving further inland, prompting concern from the Invasive Species Council.
Feral Scan is monitoring the pest's spread using sightings from the public. Please keep your eyes out and add your input if you see any.
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Online farm business resilience course
Agriculture Victoria is offering farmers an opportunity to participate in a free online business program designed to help farm businesses better manage risk in the face of a variable climate.
The online program, beginning in February on Wednesdays, is suitable for livestock, grain, mixed farmers, horticulturalists and apiarists. It is designed to help farmers set and achieve their individual business goals and is relevant to all levels of experience, from those who are new to farming and young farmers to seasoned farmers.
Key farm management topics covered include:
- identifying and managing risks, strategic planning and setting business goals;
- financial management, budgeting and profitable decision making;
- managing people on farm, succession planning and farm safety;
- climate risk and natural resource management;
- business planning.
Participants will also be offered a one-on-one session with an experienced farm management consultant to review their business plan.
Find out more and apply here.
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RIC Drought Loan information webinar | |
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Discover how a RIC Drought Loan can assist you and your farm. Find out more about the loan’s purpose and features, eligibility, and more.
This is a free webinar providing information for primary producersr, rural financial counsellors and agricultural industry groups.
Details: Wedesday, 28 February, 12pm-1pm AEDT. Register here.
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Webinar: Co-ops 101 for Olive Growers | |
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The AOA’s extension program is getting off and running early this year, with an interactive webinar exploring the opportunities provided by co-operative business operations.
Combining learning and discussion, the session will look at how mutuality and co-operation can collectively solve a problem and form foundations for shared ownership among olive growers. It will specifically cover the foundations of ‘what is a co-op’, with case studies shared for inspiration and discussion.
Hosted by the AOA, the webinar will be presented by Clare Fountain from Co-operative Bonds, supported by the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM). Clare has contributed to national co-op development programs Farming Together and Co-operative Farming, and is currently contributing to the Care Together program of the BCCM.
Details:
Wednesday, 7 February @ 11:00-11:45am AEDT.
Register here.
Matakana Olive Co-operative Webinar
This webinar will build on the foundation information on co-operatives, with Mahurangi Olives (New Zealand) owner David Sullivan sharing his experience of the successful Matakana Olive Co-operative in practice.
Over its lifetime, Matakana Olive Co-operative encompassed between four and ten groves, ranging in size from 1200 trees down to a few hundred, with a total of around 2,500 trees. Members maintained and harvested their own groves, with the oil pressed at the one mill. The combined oil stock was evaluated, filtered, stored and bottled by members in a central purpose-built facility, and sold under the Matakana Olive Co-operative label, with members paid from the net proceeds of sales based on their percentage of the total for the harvest period.
Run as a collective, the Matakana Olive Co-operative provided a shared-cost, viable production and distribution model for a regional group of boutique olive oil producers.
Details:
Wednesday, 7 February @ 11:00-11:45am AEDT.
Register here.
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GROWER TO GROWER
Have a question? Need some advice? Ask a fellow grower!
The FOE team regularly hears from growers with questions about grove or production practices, or equipment, that they just can’t find the answers to. They’re things other producers are likely know about and/or experienced themselves. So we’ve set up a new Friday Olive Extracts feature, Grower to Grower, where you can send your questions and have them answered by your peers.
Just send the details to editor@olivegrower.com.au and we’ll put them out to the Friday Olive Extracts community - that’s thousands of readers across the globe.
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Olives WA is holding a free workshop for novice and experienced EVOO tasters and judges. The interactive workshop will be held at a commercial olive processing facility, with demonstrations and education on the process of harvesting and crushing olive fruit, and how it affects the end-product (EVOO) characteristics, including potential faults. Industry experts will also cover general olive topics including table olives and olive cultivars.
Numbers are strictly limited, and priority is given to individuals willing to attend future training and participate (or work towards participating on) WA Olive Awards judging panels in October 2024.
Details: Sunday, 17 March in York. Email entries@oliveswa.com for more information.
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2024 Churchill Fellowship information session | |
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A virtual information session is being held on Tuesday, February 6 for people from the agriculture, horticulture, wine and food sectors interested in applying for a Churchill Fellowship.
Churchill Fellowships fund Australians from all walks of life so they can travel overseas and investigate an issue or topic they are passionate about. No formal qualifications are required to apply; you design your own itinerary and travel at time of your choosing. The options are virtually limitless, providing your project will benefit Australia and you are willing to share your findings when you return.
Both general fellowship and specific sponsored opportunities available, including the Hort Innovation Churchill Fellowships to cultivate new ideas in horticulture.
Starting at 6.30 pm (AEDT), the February information session is one of eight being hosted by the Churchill Trust this year. It will run for about an hour, with the opportunity to ask questions, gain helpful advice on how to apply and be inspired by Churchill Fellows sharing their experiences and insights. Register now here.
The 2024 application round is open from 1 March to 1 May. Find out more here.
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Record olive oil prices drive down consumption in Spain, but loyalty to category remains
After a slight reprieve, olive oil prices in Spain have reached new records, both at origin and in supermarkets. According to Infaoliva’s price observatory, extra virgin olive oil prices at origin hit record highs again in mid-January, reaching €8.988 per kilogram, a 68 percent increase compared to last year.
However, those loyal to EVOO are buying smaller amounts, the report says, while sales of olive pomace oil grew by 160% during 2023.
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Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news | |
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Now that we’re back after the break, the Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) team will continue to bring all the latest industry news and events to your Inbox every week during 2024. 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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Industrial vegetable oils show dangerous levels of toxic elements, surpassing traditional oils
In a recent study published in the journal BMC Public Health, a team of researchers analyzed samples of industrially and traditionally made edible vegetable oils, such as sunflower, sesame, olive, and peanut oil, to determine whether they contained potentially toxic elements such as cadmium, lead, iron, arsenic, and zinc.
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An olive tree estimated to be more than 2,200 years old in the Montenegrin town of Bar is in peril after it was discovered part of it was drying out. Work on a new drainage system has just begun in an effort to save the ancient tree. | |
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Best fruits to eat when on a low-carb diet
Olives. Olives are one of the best sources for unsaturated fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants. They promote heart health and lower the risk ...
A consumer media outlet which knows that olives are fruit! We’re impressed.
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Australian and New Zealand
Olive Industry Directory
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