26 SEPTEMBER 2025

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Today's top story

Protecting the future of Australian olives: Industry represented at national Xylella preparedness workshop

Image: Australian Olive Association President Mike Thomsett and Scientific Adviser in Sustainable Pest Management Professor Robert Spooner-Hart attended the national Xylella workshop on behalf of industry.

The interests of the Australian olive industry were represented at a national Xylella preparedness workshop recently, as efforts to safeguard the nation’s agriculture sector from one of the most serious emerging plant disease threats worldwide continue.

Read the full story on the AOA website.

Australia

Federal government's agriculture emissions reductions 'ambitious' but 'achievable'

The federal government projects a 28 per cent drop in emissions by 2050 under its new plan for agriculture.

Experts say the expectation is "ambitious" but "achievable", however the industry is unlikely to hit its own net-zero targets.

Farmers say competition for offsets from trees and land is likely to increase.

NFF says draft legislation on regional telecommunications falls short

The Federal Government has released draft legislation for the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation, alongside its long-awaited response to the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review.

Boutique Wagga producer a standout at Sydney Royal Fine Food Show Oil and Olives Competition

Image: Family representatives James Treloar and Patricia Allum accept the award on behalf of W2Olives owners Geoffrey Treloar and Jenny Masters. (Royal Agricultural Society of NSW)

Winners of the 2025 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show Oil and Olives Competition were announced on 10 September.

One of the standout stories to emerge from the judging was W2Olives - the boutique brand was awarded the 2025 Champion Awards for Champion Boutique Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Champion Flavoured Oil. This is the third consecutive yearW2Olives has been awarded the Champion Boutique Olive Oil, highlighting its quality and consistency.

W2Olives is based in Wagga, comprising a single grove of 1,700 trees. It began as a family project in 1997 and has gone from strength-to-strength thanks to fertile soils, ideal climate, ample water from the Murrumbidgee River and of course, old-fashioned hard work.

Sustainability is at the forefront of operations, with practices including use of a solar powered mill, composting of mill waste and ensuring prunings are mulched and returned to the grove. Ever mindful of its carbon footprint, it has been calculated that for every litre of W2Olives oil produced, four kilos of carbon is sequestered.

The competition is judged by The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.

Visit the competition website for more information and results.

Investment scams among biggest risks to businesses

As rural and regional businesses embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline their operations, criminals are exploiting the very same tools to launch increasingly sophisticated cons.

AOA Classifieds

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For details, rates, or to create a classified, hit the button below.

AOA Classifieds

Storm-damaged turbine at NSW Central West wind farm raises safety concerns

More than a dozen turbines have been temporarily shut down after a blade snapped at a NSW Central West wind farm during a storm.

A professor in structural engineering says the frequency of turbine failures in Australia has increased in recent years.

Rural citizen scientists monitor wildlife activity to help conservation

After years dedicated to conserving his property on the NSW Mid North Coast, Andy McCoubrie was confident it was home to a host of wildlife.

But it was not until he installed cameras and audio recorders that he realised just how diverse that wildlife was.

Women band together to create community for rural mums feeling lonely

Farming families sometimes need to be encouraged to put their mental health first, according to rural counsellor and mother-of-two, Louise O'Neill.

Tasmanian farmer Steph Trethewey runs a charity that aims to connect isolated mums through online mothers' groups.

International

Climate change fuels growing volatility in olive oil market, says RaboResearch

Olive oil production has experienced significant volatility, leading to dramatic fluctuations in prices and 2024-25 season witnessing a significant production rebound

The price of a liter of olive oil will rise again to high prices, but not to 10 euros

This summer's heat waves and lack of rain have caused olives to roast in the olive trees.

Greek farmers discuss sustainable olive oil production

Sustainable olive oil production is a priority for growing numbers of farmers in Greece as they confront the challenges of global warming.

For consumers who prefer to support sustainable food production, olive oil is a wise choice. Climate change makes olive farming more difficult with more heat and less water, but olives can help solve the problem.

Olive tree flowering mapped to key genetic regions

The timing of flowering in fruit trees is tightly regulated by seasonal temperature cues. Warmer winters may hinder chilling requirements, delaying floral induction, while warmer springs may trigger early blooming, increasing frost risk.

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Extra virgin excellence: The history and health benefits of Greek olive oil

Olive oil production has played an important role in Greece’s history and culture.

During classical times in Athens, the olive tree, whose branches were used in ancient rituals, was considered a gift from the wise and brave goddess Athena, and according to Aristotle, anyone who destroyed or uprooted an olive tree faced the death penalty.

California Olive Ranch unveils pollinator project to boost biodiversity, ecosystem health

A showcase event was held on Thursday at California Olive Ranch in Artois, featuring officials from Chico State’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems Program and the American Olive Oil Producers Association.

Olive production decline in Idleb due to rainfall shortage

The olive harvest in Idleb northwestern Syria faced a significant decline this year largely due to rainfall shortage adding hard burdens on farmers, agriculture officials said Sunday.