Frost risk realised; Fourth La Niña tipped; Productive pits

20 September 2024

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

Today's top story

Cold snap leads to snow, hail and frost in unseasonable spring weather across south-east Australia

Icy conditions in Victoria's Dinner Plain. (Supplied: Phil Hart)

Unseasonable cold weather has led to spring records being broken across south-east Australia. A polar air mass from Antarctica and Southern Ocean air have led to the plummeting temperatures. More frost and snow is ahead this week across parts of Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

This is why frost risk awareness and grove preparation are so important, especially as olive flowers are forming and opening.

Australia

Trade deal secured with the United Arab Emirates

The Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement provides a gateway for Australian exporters to diversify into the Middle East, a market of around 58 million consumers and a combined GDP of A$1.4 trillion. The agreement will deliver real benefits for Australian farmers and food producers, with estimated tariff savings of $50 million per year for our food and agriculture exports.

Latest modelling tips fourth La Niña for Australia in five years before the end of 2024

The signature La Niña cool tongue of water along the equator is slowly expanding to the west from South America. (Supplied: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

There are growing signs Australia's most impactful climate driver, La Niña, will develop during the coming months. La Niña refers to an altered state of the tropical Pacific, lasting anywhere from months to years, when cooler-than-average waters combine with changes in the overlying atmosphere to disrupt global weather patterns.

Fat Farmers exercise group boosts mental and physical health in rural SA, Victoria

In Millicent, the Fat Farmers group boxes to stay fit. (ABC News: Kerry Staight)

Twelve years ago, a trio of middle-aged farmers had a good hard look at themselves and weren't happy with what they saw … The farmers, from Maitland on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, decided to give the local gym a go.

A reminder that ‘farmer management’ is just as an important as grove management.

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.

Giant 'gurgling' earthworms living under Gippsland farms the focus of new research

The head of a giant Gippsland earthworm. (Supplied: Beverley Van Praagh)

A new project will map colonies of endangered giant Gippsland earthworms on farms. The worms, among the biggest in the world, grow to one metre long and are rarely seen above ground.

If you’re in the region, keep an eye/ear out and let them know if you find any.

New regulations for exporting food and beverage to Indonesia

From 17 October 2024, Indonesia’s Law 33/2014 on Halal Product Assurance applies to food and beverage products including raw ingredients, food additives and supplementary materials.

Opportunities

Have your say on APVMA’s proposed fees and charges

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has released a consultation paper on proposed changes to its Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS). The paper outlines three possible scenarios for public comment.

The APVMA is holding a free webinar for stakeholder, to assist in understanding of the background to the CRIS, APVMA’s current financial situation and the cost recovery scenarios outlined in the paper.

Consultation is open until 18 October 2024. Find out more and make a submission here.

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.

When: 15 October, 2-3pm AEST. More information and register 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 are some more highlights from this year’s program:

Olive Oil Blending Workshop

Ever had low EVOO yields, with insufficient to bottle as single varietals? Or you are looking to elevate your oil from a Bronze medal to Gold-worthy status (and who isn’t!)?

Run by Australian International Olive Awards Head Judge Helen Taylor and Chief Steward Trudie Michels - former Chief Blender for Red Island - this session will cover the benefits and how-to basics of blending EVOO, concluding with a hands-on workshop. Labeling considerations will also be discussed.

The session builds on last year’s popular tasting workshop and aims to provide producers with the skills and confidence to achieve a blended product to suit their customers and market.

Oliver Portway, Mellor Olsson Lawyers: Lock It In - The Importance Of Contracts

If it’s not in writing and signed, it’s not a contract – but isn’t a handshake as good when you’re in agreement? Portway will look at what constitutes a valid contract and whether that handshake counts in law.

Nicole Byrnes, Hort Innovation Australia: What Does Your Levy Pay For?

Byrnes' presentation is aimed at answering key FAQs on the olive levy, such as 'How Are Levy Investments Decisions Made'?

Richard Eckard, University of Melbourne: The Value of Carbon Is In The Soil, Not Credits

Eckard's presentation will focus on soil carbon as an inherent benefit to the farm as opposed to a tradeable commodity.

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.

Webinar: Weather Forecasting

Making daily operational decisions is challenging, especially in today’s variable climate. New technologies can help and there are tech companies, agronomy services and growers who are already leading the way.

Join this webinar to learn from their experiences and consider possible advantages for your farm.

Details: Wednesday, 23 October - 11am AEDT. Free. More information here.

This event is part of the Building Biosecurity Capacity and Resilience within the NSW Vegetable Industry Project, funded by the Australian and NSW Government’s Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program with support from AUSVEG, Jane’s Weather and Ag Logic.

Countdown to presentation of Australian International Olive Awards 2024

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

New Zealand

Soaring chocolate and olive oil prices push annual food price inflation up

Spikes in the chocolate and olive oil prices offset cheaper fruit and vegetables to push annual food price inflation up slightly in August. Olive oil, chocolate, butter, and takeaway meals drove an overall food price increase of 0.4% for the year to August 31, Stats NZ said today.

We hope those price rises are making it through to NZ olive oil producers.

International

Olive oil producers focusing on US, Australia, Japan

With restrictions on exports eased and output expected to surge this year, Türkiye’s olive oil producers are focusing on large markets, such as the U.S., Australia, and Japan.

Environmental sustainability in olive growing

The ‘Manifesto for sustainable olive production’, drawn up by Planet O-live Academy with the scientific support of the Sant'Anna School, was presented at the national headquarters of Confagricoltura in Rome.

Here are a couple of ways olive production is becoming an increasingly sustainable …

Leading olive oil producer Spain turns to olive stones for fuel

He kept heating the covered pool in the 18th century farmhouse he rents to tourists and the hot water running for as many as 26 guests at once without getting the terrifying energy bills hammering fellow Spaniards. His secret? Olive stones.

Olive oil byproducts become packaging solution

BioPowder has introduced a sustainable packaging solution using olive stone powders, derived from the by-products of olive oil production. These powders, branded as Olea FP (Functional Powder), are designed to improve the performance of biodegradable packaging, aiding the transition to eco-friendly materials.

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!

Groves need rain ahead of harvest in Greece

After more than four months of hot and dry weather in much of Greece, olive farmers and olive oil producers cite rain as the most critical factor for a substantial olive oil crop in the country in the coming 2024/25 crop year.

A fortnight ago. And then …

Storms in Greece flood olive groves, damage trees

Heavy rain and hailstorms swept across Greece, damaging olive trees ahead of the upcoming harvest and raising concerns over the spread of disease.

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.