14 June 2024

Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au

Today's Top Story

Prolonged cold snap across eastern Australia to last at least a week

Snow now covers the NSW Snowy Mountains following fresh snowfalls this week. (Source: SMSkier)

South-east Australia is collectively shivering through a prolonged spell of bleak wintry weather - a pattern that will linger for at least another week. Yesterday was so cold in parts of south-west New South Wales and Victoria that a handful of locations shivered to their lowest maximum in years.

Sounds like office work … or thermals!

Australia

Government axing of 26-year-old harvest trail jobs program a big loss, say farmers and backpackers

Backpackers Melanie Aragon and David Garrote (centre), who work at David McMahon's (right) fruit farm at Stanthorpe. (ABC Rural: Brandon Long)

Harvest Trail Services and Harvest Trail Information Service were cut in the May federal budget, saving $47.3 million over the next five years. Backpackers say as more of them turn to job websites and social media, exploitation will increase due to fewer background checks. The government is directing jobseekers to the Workforce Australia jobs board.

Growth in emissions of 'forgotten greenhouse gas' nitrous oxide is speeding up: study

Emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) by humans has increased 40 per cent in the past 40 years, according to a new report. The second-ever global nitrous oxide budget also found the rate of annual growth in emissions of N2O is increasing, with agriculture being a major source. Known as the ''forgotten greenhouse gas", N2O has 300 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide (CO2).

But an answer may be at hand …

Listen: Could bacteria help drive down farming emissions?

Without farms, most of us would go hungry. But the way we grow food with fertilisers mean that farms also produce greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide. It's a tricky issue to manage and scientists our of Norway say they might hold a piece of the puzzle with nitrous-oxide eating bacteria.

Biosecurity foot mats removed from airports as Indonesia's foot and mouth disease outbreak 'stabilises'

Sanitation foot mats at international airports and cruise terminals have been removed as FMD case numbers have now "stabilised in Indonesia", the government says. Farming groups say the move is "disappointing" and was done without industry consultation.

Coinciding with a move to introduce a new levy to boost national biosecurity, ceasing this simple and effective tool seems illogical.

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.

Poultry farmers urge backyard chicken owners to implement biosecurity measures, help curb bird flu

Chicken farmers are calling on backyard poultry owners to protect their animals from disease to help stop the nation's largest outbreak of bird flu from spreading and further affecting the egg industry.

Lots of us have poultry on our properties, and it’s important that we all do our bit do protect against the spread.

Facing closure, these family farms have been saved by agritourism and they want to pass on the know-how

The Tommerup family sells direct to customers. (Supplied: Tommerup's Dairy).

It is an incredible milestone Tommerup's Dairy Farm very nearly didn't make, celebrating 150 years and six generations of farming on Queensland's Scenic Rim. In 2021, the family was offered less than 50 cents a litre for milk that cost 95 cents a litre to produce.

Australian Exporter Diversification Survey

Austrade is keen to understand the biggest market diversification trends and opportunities for Australian exporters. They want to know about your trade diversification experience, exporting challenges and future priorities, and are inviting participation in the Export Diversification Survey.

The survey contains 16 questions and is expected to take 5-10 minutes to complete.

You can access the survey here until 30 June.

Events

Sip & Chat webinar - Fat Pig Farm 2.0: An evolution in agritourism

The next instalment of the ‘Sip & Chat’ online series is happening this month, facilitated by Regionality’s Rose Wright and featuring Sadie Chrestman and Matthew Evans from Tasmania’s TV-famous Fat Pig Farm.

You’re invited to grab a cup or glass of your favourite liquid, get your Zoom on and settle in to hear about the evolution of their agritourism offering and what’s in store for Fat Pig Farm 2.0. The session will also preview Regionality’s Farm2Plate Exchange – On The Road.

Details:

Thursday, 20 June at 7:30pm AEST. Free.

Registration is essential. Book your spot now here.

Entries now open for 2024 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA)

Australia’s premier olive competition, with international status and recognition, the 2024 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) is now open for entries.

Benefits of entering the AIOA include:

Entries assessed and awarded on merit by a team of internationally trained judges.
All entrants receive comprehensive judging feedback.
Successful judging provides eligibility for OliveCare® certification.
Unprecedented opportunity for international recognition of winning products and producers.
The comprehensive Results Book is sent out to all entrants and stakeholders, providing an impressive marketing tool for all medal and award winners.

· The opportunity to purchase the professional product images from the Results Book at only $35 plus GST – a fraction of the price of your own professional photography.

New for 2024 …

This year’s competition offers even more benefits for entrants, including a Producer Index Listing in the Results Book to help buyers and consumers find your award-winning products. The listing will also be accessible as a reference page on the Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Everyday website

There are also new decals for Best of Class and Best of Show winners, and a Platinum Medal has been introduced to recognise exceptionally high-scoring entries.

Find out more and enter here, or if you need assistance with your entries please contact Competition Convenor & Chief Steward Trudie Michels on 0419 031 527 or aioa@australianolives.com.au.

TODAY: India Agrifood and Consumer Market Update Webinar

If you’re considering entering the Indian market, or seeking to develop larger access to the market, join this webinar on the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), and the potential it offers.

The session will provide a high-level overview of the Indian economy, and update on import policy and trade parameters, via a dialogue about the Indian opportunity, challenges, and regulations for exporting to the Indian market. It will also look at the support services Austrade provides to clients.

This market briefing will cover:

tariff reductions for agrifood products under AI-ECTA;
latest on labelling and compliance;
update on specific commercial opportunities for Australian agrifood and consumer products;
Austrade agrifood plans for 2024-25 and how to leverage them to develop greater market access for India.

Details:

14 June @ 3-4 PM AEST. Register here.

New Zealand

Olive press to leave no stone unturned amid ‘light’ crop

An olive “co-operative of sorts” is to leave no stone unturned as it searches out fruit amid a “very light” season. Olive Press Marlborough is putting the call out for olives - even if you only have a tree or two in your back garden - as they look to bolster this year’s yield.

Contract Olive Pruning - Riverland Pruning & Harvest

All aspects of olive pruning - tree training, re-shaping,

re-juvenate, pruning for shaker or hand harvesting.

All tools supplied.

Fully licensed and insured.

Over 20 years’ experience.

Servicing SA, WA, NSW, WA & TAS.

Contact Rajab – 0469 718 719

rajabnassiri510@yahoo.com

International

U.S. sees significant growth in organic olive oil sales

In the past two years, organic olive oil sales in the U.S. have increased by ten percent while conventional extra virgin olive oil sales slipped.

Climate change is boosting the bacteria that devour olive trees

A disease-causing bacteria that wipes out olive trees benefits from climate change, reports a new study.

Two scenarios for olive oil prices in Greece

Olive oil prices in Greece remain high, but a glimmer of hope is on the horizon, TA NEA reports. It may take some time, but we anticipate a gradual return to pre-crisis levels, eventually translating into more affordable prices for consumers.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

We’re now well into 2024 and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) team 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!

Proposal would ban solar panel installation on Italy's farmlands

Exemptions for agri-voltaic systems would still allow research and development of projects in olive groves to continue.

For more on in-grove agri-voltaic systems, don’t miss the June edition of Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor, hitting letterboxes any day now. Not a subscriber? You can do so here.

European farmers up in arms over rising costs

European farmers are up in arms over a perfect storm of rising costs, cheap imports and radical sustainability plans that have left many of them unable to make ends meet.

A longer read, big picture look at the state of agriculture in Europe.

Concrete and water are damaging Montenegro's oldest olive tree

Stara Maslina

In their efforts to turn the 2,247-year-old Stara Maslina into a tourist attraction, local authorities have inadvertently damaged the iconic olive tree.

Record olive oil prices drive food inflation in Greece

A study from the National Bank of Greece found that record olive oil prices were responsible for almost 50 percent of the increase in total food inflation.