10 March 2023

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

Today's Top Story

La Niña’s three-year reign across Australia finally ends, promising drier, hotter weather

Sydney recorded its wettest year on record in 2022 on the back of a third straight La Niña. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)

After three years of dominating weather patterns around the globe, La Niña has now ended. La Niña - the cool phase of the eastern Pacific Ocean, which typically brings rain and floods to Australia on the ocean's warmer western edge - has been weakening for months, as evidenced by sea surface temperatures returning to normal along equatorial areas of the globe.

Australia

Australian farming sets $90b record after wet weather creates food, fibre bonanza

Australian farmers have produced their most valuable year yet, growing $90 billion worth of food and fibre, and pushing average yearly farm incomes to between $370,000 and $665,000 depending on the sector.

Rural women celebrate International Women's Day

Farming and working on the land comes with its challenges but these women wouldn’t trade it in for anything else.

We hope all the amazing women involved in olive businesses and the wider industry were celebrated for their efforts, talents and hard work on International Women’s Day. You make our industry great!

Australia’s drought planning should begin now, not when the rain dries up

It is a truth universally acknowledged that we rarely talk about drought when we are not in drought. You could loosely call it the “hydro-illogical cycle”. For a dry continent such as ours, how we manage rain and its deficit is a big piece of both agricultural and environmental policy.

Vineyard turns to insects to repair environment, reduce pests, save money

By bringing insects back, a winery has reduced its need for pesticides. (Reuters: Navesh Chitrakar, file)

For the past 26 years, James Sweetapple has introduced more than 700,000 insects to his winery to repair the environment and reduce chemical use. … By promoting predator insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings, Mr Sweetapple said he had removed his need for chemicals at his vineyard near Orange, in the New South Wales central west.

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 - like Len, who has a package of olive equipment for sale. 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.

Export Industry Advisory Notice: Export cost recovery implementation

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has issued an Industry Advice Notice (IAN) to notify industry that the final 2022 23 Horticulture exports cost recovery implementation statement (CRIS) has been published on its website.

More information here.

Irrigation communities given short notice about water buyback meetings, government concedes

The federal government has admitted it gave little notice to irrigation communities about information sessions this week on planned new water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Small hive beetle detected in Devonport beehive threatens $12.8m Tasmanian honey industry

A small hive beetle can devastate honey bee colonies. (Supplied: Denis Anderson)

The discovery of a small hive beetle in a beehive in the north-west of Tasmania has rocked the state's honey bee industry.

Please be vigilant if you’ve got hives on your property, and report anything unusual.

Events

VIC: Back to Basics - AOA/GSOGA Olive Grove Field Day

The AOA and GSOGA are combining resources to run a field day for both new and experienced olive producers. Going ‘back to basics’, the program will cover topics including soil nutrition, soil test results, olive grove pests and diseases, and irrigation issues.

When: Sunday, 26 March - 9am-4pm

Where: 115 Seymour-Pyalong Rd, Hilldene, VIC 3660

Hosts: Andrea & David Sefton

Cost: Members/Levy payers $44 inc GST; General $55 inc GST. Includes morning and afternoon tea, lunch and refreshments. Morning and afternoon tea sponsored by GSOGA.

Registrations close Wednesday, 22 March - register here.

2023 Olive Oil Processing Workshop

The course covers every aspect of processing quality olive oil, from grove management for optimal fruit quality to best-practice processing and storage. Along the way you’ll learn a lot about olive oil chemistry, and the practical aspects of oil extraction.

You’ll also get to meet the experts and learn industry secrets from:

International Olive Oil Consultant Pablo Canamasas - Quality, Chemistry, Processing.
Rio Vista Olives Master Miller Jared Bettio - Processing.
Rio Vista Olives Marketing Manager Sarah Ascuitto - EVOO Tasting/Identifying Defects.

Details:

Thursday 13 - Friday 14 April 2023

Rio Vista Olives, Mypolonga, SA

Members/levy payers - $275 inc GST; Others - $375 inc GST. Cost includes all meals.

Contact for more details: Liz Bouzoudis: secretariat@australianolives.com.au or 0478 606 145.

Numbers are limited and registrations close 4 April - register here NOW!

This event is part of the Olive levy project Australian olive industry communications and extension program (OL22000), funded by Hort Innovation, using the Hort Innovation olive research and development levy, co-investment from the Australian Olive Association and contributions from the Australian Government.

International

Researcher finds olive oil to improve brain health, memory in mild cognitive impairment individuals

Extra virgin olive oil may have positive effects on individuals with mild cognitive impairment, according to a recently completed study by Amal Kaddoumi in Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy. Her findings, recently published in the journal Nutrients, suggest compounds found in olive oil impact brain health and improve the blood-brain barrier.

And while we’re on the health benefits of olive oil …

Mediterranean diet with extra olive oil 'slashes the risk of breast cancer by two-thirds'

A Mediterranean diet - with added olive oil - can reduce the risk of breast cancer in women by two-thirds, a study has suggested.

The art of producing high quality olive oil

Olive oil tasting can be as intense and serious as wine tasting. Colour, texture, smell, viscosity, clarity and much more determine the quality level of extra virgin olive oil. In order to learn the necessary techniques to produce such high-quality olive oil, cooperative members and farmers from various south Lebanese municipalities came to take part in a week-long course focusing on improved olive growing and agricultural practices.

The EU enters talks with the US to address the removal of tariffs on black olives

The European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, had a meeting this Thursday with the Secretary of Commerce of the United States of America, Gina Raimondo, he addressed the suppression of tariffs on Spanish black olives, which were eliminated last January.

Rain and snow across California too late for slumping olive oil production

While the significant snowfall means most of the state has escaped extreme drought, production is still expected to fall to a four-year low.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

A new year has started and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) will continue 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!

Canada releases Food Fraud Report for 2021–2022

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has released its Food Fraud Annual Report for 2021–2022, which summarizes the activities CFIA conducted throughout the year to prevent, detect, and deter food fraud. Food fraud is a priority under the Food Policy for Canada.

3,000-year-old Greek olive tree in Greece still grows olives

The magnificent Olive Tree of Vouves in the village of Ano Vouves in Crete, Greece. (Photo: Eric Nagle via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Trees have a certain steadfast, understated beauty. Their longevity means they see people, seasons, and even historical events come and go. Some trees have seen more than others.

There are so many reasons to respect the incredible trees we work with.

MAGISNAT, a cutting-edge spin-off that is working to bring well-being to the world’s entire population

In the project that MAGISNAT is carrying out, following in the footsteps of the innovative Dr Achille Bertelli, natural molecules are not the only protagonists, but at the base there is a broader and more articulated vision … the focus of all the activities of this innovative spin-off is the Mediterranean diet.