It has been a year since coronavirus pulled back the veil on the true extent of our rural labour workforce shortage - and yet little seems to have changed to ease the situation.
As NSW approaches the winter grain harvest and horticulture's peak picking season, farming groups are increasingly concerned not enough has been done to tackle the problem.
NSW Farmers president James Jackson said, based on feedback from the association's members, labour shortages for the upcoming grain harvest and picking season was the number one concern.
While government measures, such as the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) quarantine subsidy, did suit some businesses, Mr Jackson said it was not practical for the family farm.
"The large proportion of farm businesses cannot access SWP and for many family farms, workers are only needed for short periods of time," Mr Jackson said.
NSW Farmers predicts a peak harvest gap of between 4000 to 6000 workers per day for horticulture, with other sectors like grain and wool also warning of big shortages.
"There is a need for interstate coordination to support each other and to find pathways that get every state through these challenging times," Mr Jacksons said.
"These are family farm businesses we are talking about that rely on working holiday makers for short-term work."
Peak vegetables and potato body, Ausveg, is also calling for more workers from the Pacific Islands and for the increase to Australia's quarantine capacity to ensure growers had access to the workers they need.
The report, Phase 2 of the Seasonal horticulture labour demand and workforce study, commissioned by Hort Innovation, indicates the peak casual labour supply gap could range from 11,000 to 24,000 workers in early 2022.
"Industry has already brought in more than 10,000 workers since the SWP restarted in July last year, and it is great to see the Prime Minister's commitment last Friday to bring in another 12,500 workers by March next year," said Ausveg public affairs national manager Tyson Cattle.
NSW Shadow Agriculture Minister Mick Veitch has questioned what the NSW government's plan was for the labour shortage, saying its failure to manage the latest outbreak of COVID-19 was going to place great pressure on this year's harvest.
"Right now, we need to know what this minister (NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall) is doing to solve the emerging labour shortage crisis for this year's spring harvest," Mr Veitch said.
"The minister should by now be advising industry and the broader community about the government's plans for the upcoming harvest season."
Mr Vietch said he had been talking to a wide range of groups who kept telling him there were also long-term issues that needed to be addressed.
"You cannot learn to be a shearer in a two week course. We need accredited shearer trainers, coaches and mentors to provide support and encouragement for new shearers entering the industry," he said.
"Agriculture in NSW requires a minister who is a strong advocate for the sector, who continues to liaise with all stakeholders on a regular basis."
Since September last year, Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the government took responsibility for securing 25,000 visa-ready workers from the Pacific.
"The Premiers at National Cabinet demanded control of their quarantine so they could manage the health arrangements for their state for those entering the country and that was agreed to," Mr Littleproud said.
Mr Marshall was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
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