03 February 2023

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

Today's Top Story

Summer snow to bring lowest February temperatures in 18 years

A vigorous front with air directly from Antarctica will reach South Australia and Victoria before sweeping through southern NSW. (Supplied: Charlotte Pass Snow Resort)

Early February is still the height of summer but a polar air mass currently on a journey north across the Southern Ocean is about to drop temperatures to their lowest February levels in nearly two decades.

Australia

Opposition period open for application to trademark ‘Agrumato’

In January 2022 IP Australia received an application by an Italian entity to trademark the word ‘Agrumato’ in Australia.

The AOA has been monitoring the application throughout the examination process (during which no public input is available) and can confirm it has now been accepted. Significantly, however, the item listings for “edible oils and fats; extra virgin olive oil for food” have been removed from the Class 29 application category, with “olive pastes” now the only olive-related product listed.

Note: the application scope also includes an additional range of food items not related to olives co-processed with citrus or other flavouring elements. You can view the trademark application here.

The application is now in the Opposition period and the AOA is co-ordinating a collective opposition submission on behalf of Australian producers. If you feel that this may impact your business into the future, or that the trademarking of the term is inappropriate, please send details of your opposition to the AOA at secretariat@australianolives.com.au. Submissions are required by the end of February for collation by the opposition period deadline.

You can also lodge your own opposition - more information and links here.

*We’ll cover this in more detail in the March edition of Olivegrower & Processor – if you’re not signed up already, you can subscribe here.

Rural properties going off-grid with renewables for energy security and to reduce costs

Roxanne Hinton says it was cheaper and logistically easier to set up the farm off-grid. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan)

When Roxanne and Luke Hinton started planning their finger lime farm on the idyllic Capricorn Coast several years ago, they had little idea it would double as a highly successful off-grid wedding venue in just a few years. The entire operation is operated by solar, with self-sufficient watering systems, sewerage and power.

Technology means we have a lot more options these days than just ‘plug and pay’. Victorian growers looking at alternatives may be interested in the Ellinbank SmartFarm Energy Farm Walk (see Events, below).

Hands-free horticulture sees higher production

Labour use has decreased on Australian horticulture and dairy farms and increased on broadacre farms over the last few years, according to the latest ABARES survey results. ABARES Executive Director, Dr Jared Greenville said despite the decline in labour use, agricultural production has increased over the same period, indicating that farms have adapted to constrained labour supply.

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.

Tasmanian beekeeper registration now compulsory

Tasmanian beekeepers are invited to register their beekeeping activities before 31 March 2023.

There is no cost to register and registration will remain free for the first two years. Registration is compulsory for all Tasmanian commercial and recreational beekeepers, and new conditions mean anyone currently registered with Biosecurity Tasmania will need to re-register online by 31 March 2023.

Find out more and register here.

And here’s why they need to keep track:

Echuca beekeeper fined $12,500 for failure to reveal American foulbrood infections

A well-known beekeeper from Echuca has been fined after pleading guilty to breaching biosecurity laws, including failing to notify authorities of hives infected with American and European foulbrood. Bradley Jackson was fined $12,500 and released on a 12-month good behaviour bond undertaking in Shepparton's Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A start reminder that biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and there are myriad repercussions for breaches and lax practices.

Opportunities

Applications open for NFF National Mentoring Program

The National Farmers’ Federation and Australian Rural Leadership Foundation are ready to connect more farmers, industry professionals and rural community members as mentees and mentors for the National Mentoring Program.

More than 300 rural Australians have been connected with a mentor in drought-prone communities, gaining one-on-one mentoring sessions and insights from industry leaders, and receiving virtual learning sessions to develop drought preparedness, resilience and stronger networks.

The national program is open to individuals from various backgrounds and experiences, and both mentors and mentees are invited to join the program, which is fully funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Applications are open until 3 April 2023 and you can apply here.

Events

NOVA grove field day: pruning & shaping trees

Olives SA is holding a lecture and demonstration on pruning and shaping trees at the NOVA grove at Roseworthy College, home to the 587 trees of the National Olive Collection (NOC) and the 300 trees of the Feral Olive Trial. The session will be run by pruning guru Andrew Taylor, past president of Olives New Zealand and an arborist with over 30 years of experience in horticultural crops.

Details:

NOVA olive grove, Mudla Wirra Road, Roseworthy College (a couple of paddocks past the college, on the western side)
Saturday, 4 February @ 10am
What to bring: yourself, your friends, hat, gloves glasses, boots and gaiters, chainsaw, pruning saw, secateurs and clippers.

Food and water will be provided, so for planning please RSVP to Michael Johnston ASAP on 0419 815 839 or mj@johnstons.net.au.

Ellinbank SmartFarm Energy Farm Walk

Growers are invited to attend an Energy Farm Walk in Ellinbank, Victoria, on Wednesday 22 February 2023, hosted by Agriculture Victoria. Attendees will:

see real farm energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy technologies;
hear about their impact, on farm practices and costs, the benefits and challenges; and
see demonstrations that include solar panels, batteries, electric ATVs, pumped hydro, wind turbines and more.

Numbers are limited, so RSVPs are critical to confirm attendance and dietary requirements.

Details:

Wednesday 22 February 2023 - 11:15am (check-in) to 1:30pm, including lunch.

Where: 1301 Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank VIC 3801

RSVP here agriculture.policy@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

International

UNESCO may yet give Andalusian olive trees heritage status

In Spain, local and national institutions and the whole local olive oil sector have met to get the prestigious UNESCO candidacy of Andalusian olive groves back on track.

Note re: “Rach explains the difference between yellow and green EVOO”

We included a link to this story in last week’s FOE and by the time most people went to click through, the page had been removed.

Our apologies to readers for any inconvenience.

Extra virgin olive oil makes good pizza even better, researchers find

A new study shows that olive oil has a significant sensory and chemical effect on Neapolitan pizza.

The Reason Wolfgang Puck doesn't cook with expensive olive oil

Olive oil is the king of the pantry, thanks to its versatility in the kitchen. Whether you choose a specific brand of oil or opt for whatever's on hand, olive oil appeals to a wide range of recipes — as well as people.

We wonder if they run these things past technical experts before they go to print …

Climate change could make parts of Lebanon ‘too hot’ for producing olive oil

Olive trees in Lebanon - historically renowned for the high-quality olive oil they produce - are under threat from rising temperatures, new research finds.

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!

In Albania’s olive oil boom, lack of proper export system means producers go bust

One the largest olive harvests ever has led to a record production of olive oil in Albania this year. But the boom in production has exposed another problem: Albania’s inability to export. Most oil producers have not been able to secure the needed certification to export even though the country has dozens of olive processing factories.

One of their challenges is a lack of laboratory capacity to certify oil quality: Australian/NZ producers are lucky to have our two highly-efficient, globally-recognised services.

Andalusian farmland will be monitored from space

A nanosatellite will provide local farmers with data about agriculture's effect on the regional environment.

Italy eases some of the burden of hiring seasonal workers

Italy recently introduced a reform aimed at reducing farming production costs and bureaucracy. The new law should make it easier for agricultural businesses to hire seasonal workers. The reform will be trialed from 2023 to the end of 2024.

Spanish black olives exports to the U.S. continue to fall

The European Commission warned that the U.S. tariffs violate WTO regulations. But it will not repay Spanish producers for legal fees.

Fossilized olive leaves are reminder of prehistoric volcano on Santorini

Fossilized olive leaves from a tree that was alive 60,000 years ago on the island of Thira (the modern Santorini) are immortalized in the volcanic ash that encased them after an eruption.