Temporary changes to workforce visas
The Federal Government has announced temporary changes to visa arrangements to help farmers access the workforce they need to secure Australia’s food and produce supply during COVID-19. The changes allow those within the Pacific Labour Scheme, Seasonal Worker Program and working holiday makers to continue to work in agriculture and food processing until the coronavirus crisis has passed.
More information and key facts
here.
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Additional air freight capacity for Australian exporters
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To support Australian exporters, Qantas and Virgin Australia are offering air freight capacity on repatriation international passenger services to Auckland, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and London from Thursday 9 April 2020. Although limited, the services give Australian producers a way to obtain valuable inputs for their businesses and will operate for approximately four weeks on confirmed routes.
In addition, 55 additional commercial freight-only flights have been scheduled for April.
And more for exporters …
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Export support during COVID-19
Austrade is assuring exporters that the agency is open for business and its network of 1,100 staff is committed to helping through this challenging time. Exporters are encouraged to keep abreast of the situation during the COVID-19 crisis, and to help Austrade has developed an information and insights page which is updated daily. Access the page
here.
The Australian Government will also inject an extra $49.8 million into the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program in the 2019-20 financial year, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to get additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services around the world. Find out more
here.
The
AOA Export Register also provides a targeted means of communication for Australian Olive Association members interested in specific export markets. Those on the register are notified when the AOA receives information specific to these markets, associated inquiries and other relevant information around exporting. You can sign up
here.
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Review of Biodiversity Certification Scheme Trial
The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance is collaborating with the Australian Farm Institute to provide a review of and recommendations for the Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme Trial, developed by the National Farmers Federation via funding through the Federal Government Agriculture Stewardship Package.
The package recognises that farmers, as stewards of the environment and as land managers, are providing wider benefits to the community, and supports further stewardship activities by farmers. Find out more about the Scheme, and get involved in the online forums currently underway,
here.
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Explaining COVID-19 to children
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Most of us have little ones in our lives and most of us find it difficult to answer the often-trickly questions they’re prone to ask. How are you going with COVID-19 queries? South Australian government body SA Health has stepped up to help with a great little picture book for young children, which explains what coronavirus is and what we all have to do to help keep transmission low and each other safe. It’s simple, factual information presented in a non-scary way, and a great resource for anyone speaking with children about the current changes happening in our lives and the world. Access the book
here.
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Theo and Matt are both
SELLING OLIVE EQUIPMENT
and they’re letting olive producers know through the OliveBiz Classifieds
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Your circumstances have changed and you’ve got equipment you no longer need but there’s undoubtedly another producer out there for whom it would be ideal. Let them know about it through the Olivebiz Classifieds – THE intra-industry way to sell, buy and source. If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, our online Classifieds service is an easy and inexpensive solution to advertise your unwanted equipment, extra oil or even your grove – like Theo, who has
production and warehouse equipment
for sale, and Matt, who’s selling a
large OFM olive sorting machine. 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.
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.
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Have your say on ag levies legislation review
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The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is modernising and streamlining levies legislation to ensure it is efficient, responsive and flexible enough to meet industry needs. They’re keen to hear from you via feedback on the draft Regulation Impact Statement.
Read the draft regulation impact documents
here, where you can also submit feedback via the online survey. The deadline for input is 31 May 2020.
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Are you okay?
It's a stressful time for all as we deal with coronavirus and the uncertainty it brings around many facets of work and life. And while farmers may be more used to isolation than many others, they still need to take care of their mental health. There’s plenty of support available, including the information, resources and peer experiences presented on the NSW government SafeWork NSW webpage
Mental health on farms. Click through
here … and please, keep taking care of yourselves and those you love in these challenging times.
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Soil data portal goes live
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Farmers across Australia and New Zealand can now see soil data from both public and private sources through a new, easy to use internet portal launched by the Soil CRC project Visualising Australasia’s Soils (VAS). Among other benefits, the portal allows users to visualise soil data trends over time and benchmark against local areas. Find out more
here.
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Turkey's leading oil manufacturer and world's largest table olive producer, Marmara Olive Agriculture Sales Cooperatives Association (Marmarabirlik), reached its highest export figures in the first three months of this year.
They acknowledge that the record exports are linked to the COVID-19 situation. Stockpiling olives/olive oil makes much more sense than toilet paper!
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Three global organizations issued a rare common statement warning of a possible worldwide undersupply of food as a result of trade and export prohibitions enforced in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
They called for the “facilitation of transport of goods for the sake of citizens”, no doubt due to reports like this:
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The COVID-19 containment measures coupled with uncertainties among the transporters have been slowing down international trade and food supplies in Italy.
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25-Mar-2020 By Jenny Eagle
AI food technology company Spoon Guru has launched an Immunity Support TAG system for online grocers to help customers find foods that boost the immune system during Coronavirus.
Good news for immune-boosting olive products, we’d think. However …
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09-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe
Authorities from a raft of countries have stepped out to caution against the advertising of health supplements that claim to prevent or treat the novel coronavirus.
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The number of olive oil samples found to exceed the maximum residue level (MRL) for pesticides in the European Union decreased once again, according to a recently published report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
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Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news
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With 2020 now well underway
,
Friday Olive Extracts
(FOE) 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!
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More than half of South Africa’s economy came to a halt as the country entered a 21-day lockdown on March 27 to combat the spread of COVID-19, but olive harvesting - which started about a month ago and will continue until August - will proceed largely unhindered.
Good to read some positive news, especially around olive production!
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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced new funds to sustain the development of olive oil production in Morocco. A loan of up to MAD 55 million ($5.58 million) has been earmarked for the construction of an olive oil mill in the Fez-Meknes region and for other projects aimed at increasing the number of farmers involved in the olive oil production in the area.
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2020
23-25 April
2020 London International Olive oil Competitions – London, UK
May
2020 NYIOOC – New York, USA
9 -12 May
Berlin Global Olive Oil Competition 2020 – Berlin, Germany
18-10 May
EVOO-IOOC – Palmi/Calabria, Italy
20 May
Entries close, Olive Japan 2020 International EVOO Competition – Tokyo, Japan
20 June 20
Winners announced, Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition – LA, USA
1 July
Entries open, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards
September TBA
World Team Tasting Championship
4 September
Entries close, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards
11 September
Entries close, 2020 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW
5 October
Results emailed to entrants, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards
16-18 October
AOA National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition – Devonport, TAS
22 October
Awards Presentation, 2020 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW
2021
16-17 February
evokeAG. – Perth, WA
23-25 March
Soil CRC Participants Conference
7-9 June
Hort Connections 2021 – Brisbane, Qld
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Friday Olive Extracts is Published by:
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Olivegrower Communications:
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Olivegrower & Processor
March Issue
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Australian and New Zealand
Olive Industry Directory
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