SPRING lamb processing is at a critical crossroads and is calling on the Victorian government to ease processor workforce restrictions as part of this Sunday's COVID-19 recovery road-map, says the Victorian Farmers Federation.
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VFF livestock group president Leonard Vallance said Victoria produced almost half of Australia's sheep and lamb meat and there were currently concerns about the viability of both processors and producers.
"Farmers have battled bushfire, drought and now COVID-19."
"Many producers were looking forward to one of the best seasons in years, but now face an uncertain immediate future as the spring peak approaches."
"There is an urgent need for a sensible, risk-based approach to evaluating processing facilities," he said.
"Some processing facilities already have the infrastructure and the internal procedure capabilities to implement COVID-safe practises. We're calling for these facilities to operate at least at 80-per-cent capacity to manage the influx of spring lambs," Mr Vallance said.
The proposed switch from a blanket approach to a risk-based strategy based on individual processing facilities would help provide producers with a level of certainty during the peak season.
"We have producers who receive their yearly pay check from large consignments of lamb in the spring time who are anxiously waiting to see a commitment to work with industry," he said.
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