Farming chemical warning; Upcycling pomace; Immature fruit drop

13 September 2024

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

Today's top story

Parkinson's Australia calls for ban on common chemical paraquat over risk to farmers

The herbicide paraquat a highly toxic and requires users follow strict regulations and precautions. (Supplied: Jake Hamilton)

Australia's leading advocate on Parkinson's disease is calling for a ban on a widely-used chemical because of growing evidence about its risk to farmers.

Australia

Drones, machine learning, AI, and geo-locating pests and disease bolster farmers' arsenal

Australian farmers are eyeing drone technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as they look to step up their "war" against mouse infestations and fungus in grain crops.

WA Biosecurity Blitz

The WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is asking WA residents to send them photos of any critters, insects, plant disease symptoms, or weeds you spot between 16 October- 16 November.

Every report submitted during Biosecurity Blitz will receive a response from the team of experts and scientists, identifying what’s in your photo, whether it’s friend or foe, and providing advice on how to sustainably manage it.

Reports also help to:

Map the distribution of pests and diseases in WA.
Increase the likelihood of early detection of exotic pests.
Prove that WA is free from pests and diseases, enabling WA farmers to sell their products across the globe.

More information here.

Unlocking potential:

Australian olive oil producers urged to upcycle pomace for cosmetics as health, wellness interests surge

Australian olive oil producers have huge opportunity to upcycle pomace as cosmetic ingredients to tap into health and wellness trends, according to industry experts.

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.

ABARES report highlights Australia’s growing production value

Australian agriculture is set to benefit this financial year, as the gross value of agricultural production is forecast to increase by 4 per cent.

And one for those of you with crops in your business mix …

SA farmer and engineer creates farm machinery to destroy weed seeds during harvest

The weed-destroying machine is attached to the back of a harvester. (Supplied: Seed Terminator).

An "innovative" invention that destroys weed seeds during harvest is helping crop farmers make herbicide-resistant pest plants a problem of the past.

Opportunities

Health and Safety Month

As part of Health and Safety Month across October, WorkSafe Victoria is offering a range of face-to-face and online opportunities to connect, learn and share.

From 1 October to 1 November, WorkSafe will hold 25 in-person events across regional Victoria, along with 15 online webinars.

Find out more here.

2025 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award

Do you have the desire, commitment and leadership potential to make a greater contribution to Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses and communities? The WiAgriFutures Rural Women’s Award winner receives a $15,000 Westpac grant for their project, business or program, access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.

Applications for the 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award are open until Wednesday, 9 October 2024.

More information here.

Events

2024 AOA National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition:

Bendigo,VIC, 23-25 October

Join this year’s industry gathering in the central Victorian city of Bendigo for a compelling program of presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions.

Here's just a sample of what's on offer:

Clockwise from top left: Paul Miller, Leandro Ravetti, Robert Spooner-Hart, Andrew Taylor.

Panel Session: Why Did I Get No Fruit This Year? And What Can I Do Instead?

Both locally and globally we’ve seen a range of issues affecting production in recent years, some obvious, others more difficult to define. The panel of industry experts, including Paul Miller, Leandro Ravetti, Andrew Taylor and Professor Robert Spooner-Hart, will discuss the issues around production loss, responding to issues raised by growers over the past season. They will also provide advice on practices to help reduce and/or mitigate crop loss in the future. The interactive session will include ample time for questions, ensuring growers will get answers specific to their needs.

Harrison Rowntree, Longridge Olives: Setting Up Or Expanding A Grove

Harrison will share his knowledge and experiences in planning an orchard for success as a small to medium sized enterprise, looking at essential planning considerations and focussed management.

Mick Ryan, ex Owner, Preston Valley Grove: Future Proofing - How To Make An Olive Grove A Saleable Asset

Ryan shares the preparation and strategy used for Preston Valley Grove’s successful quick sale in 2022.

Kealy Day, Smart Commercial Solar: Addressing Emissions And Energy Costs With Solar And Storage

Day will share relevant case studies and examples, offering practical insights on how olive producers can secure their energy future and capitalise on sustainability opportunities.

Trade Exhibition

The event will also feature a range of leading olive industry suppliers and service providers, so it’s an opportune time to review your business needs and to learn all about the latest innovations. Be sure to make time to visit the booths and speak with the experts in attendance, listed here.

View the full program here and register here.

The National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition is facilitated by the Australian Olive Association, partially funded by Hort Innovation using the Olive R&D levy, with in-kind contributions from the Australian Olive Association and funding from the Australian Government. The event is also supported by a range of industry sponsors and exhibitors, the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the Victorian Government.

Horticulture Consultation Session – Working Holiday Maker program review

The Department of Home Affairs is hosting an online consultation session to discuss regional migration settings and the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program, as part of an ongoing review..

Given the importance of Working Holiday Makers to Australian horticultural businesses, this virtual session is an opportunity for the horticultural sector to have their say on issues surrounding regional migration.

Details: 15 October, 2-3pm AEST. More information and register here.

Judging underway for 2024 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA)

Expert judging panels across the globe are now hard at work appraising entries in the 2024 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) and entrants are counting down the weeks until medal results are announced on 7 October.

The winners will be announced at a gala Presentation Dinner in Bendigo on 25 October, held in conjunction with the National Olive Conference & Exhibition. Will your EVOO, Flavoured Olive Oil or Table Olives be named 2024 Best of Show?

Don’t miss the chance to be there as the winners are announced, and accept your trophy: book your AIOA Presentation Dinner tickets here now and join your peers as we celebrate the best olive products and producers of 2024.

2024 Platinum Sponsor

AgEnviro Labs

International

Olive oil prices to finally fall as Spain expects bumper harvest

A much better-than-expected olive this autumn in key Mediterranean producers could finally bring an end to the record-high olive oil prices seen over the past two years.

Future-proofing olive farming: balancing tradition and modern practices

Balancing productivity with sustainability will be crucial to ensuring the long-term viability of olive farming in Spain amidst changing climate conditions.

Study looks deeper into olive oil's health benefits

Olive oil has long been touted for its ability to lower heart disease risk. So University of Florida researchers set out to dig deeper to learn how much olive oil is beneficial.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

We’re now well over half-way through the year and the 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!

Seed oil vs saturated fat: which is worse, according to nutritionists?

A debate is raging in the nutrition world: are seed oils or saturated fats to blame for heart disease? The leading cause of death in the U.S., one in five fatalities in 2022 was attributed to heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But nutrition experts are split about what causes it.

Unidentified issue triggering early fruit drop in Northern Italy

Farmers are concerned about widespread and unexplained instances of immature olives falling in Frantoio groves. Extreme weather is thought to be the cause.