Harvesting in the Oaklands district of southern NSW late last year. Photo: Narrain Grain

AGRICULTURE is lobbying hard to get visas for seasonal workers, including those hoping to help with the upcoming grain harvest, moved up the Federal Government’s list of priorities.

In a statement provided to Grain Central today, National Farmers Federation chief executive officer Mike Guerin said NFF has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seeking “immediate clarity on the government’s intent concerning the proposed reform of the Working Holiday Maker program.”

“The letter is co-signed by numerous peak bodies who rely on backpacker and migrant labour.

“These organisations include agricultural bodies, as well as tourism and hospitality representatives.”

Mr Guerin said regional economies have already been disrupted by the confusion surrounding these changes.

“We’re at a critical moment in the ag calendar with harvest on our doorstep.”

Mr Guerin said the NFF has met with a number of relevant advisors in the past week, including with those from the office of Minister for Immigration Tony Burke.

“We’ve shared the invaluable importance of backpackers, especially in filling seasonal harvest roles, including in the grains industry where candidates often bring experience driving heavy farm machinery.

“We will continue to advocate for answers.”

VFF, GPA add weight

Backpackers who hold temporary visas are regulars in many contract-harvesting crews, and casual farm payrolls, from October through to January.

The way the season is panning out, their help will be particularly important in Victoria as it heads towards a bumper harvest.

A statement released by the Victorian Farmers Federation on Thursday and entitled Visa slowdown puts Victorian harvest at risk highlights concerns held by the state’s farmers.

“We are already seeing the impacts of workforce uncertainty, and the timing could not be worse as Victorian agriculture heads into peak harvest and production periods,” VFF president and grain-grower Ryan Milgate said.

“If a crop is ready to harvest and the cattle are needing to milked and the workers are not there, it will be a potential disaster.

“There will be no option but to let produce it rot on the tree, wilt in the paddock or significantly scale back on-farm production.”

Mr Milgate said VFF understood the Federal Government has ‘broader migration issues to manage”, but pointed to agriculture’s “very specific skilled seasonal workforce needs”.

“We are working with our national farming counterparts to make sure that message is heard, but we are also calling on decision-makers to talk to farmers before making uninformed decisions that will have serious consequences at the farm gate.”

“This isn’t a speculative issue; we’re already hearing real world stories and concerns of workers and farmers trapped in limbo.”

VFF grains president and grower Jason Mellings said the stakes for grain growers were particularly high this harvest.

“For grain growers, this is shaping up to be one of the most expensive crops we have ever planted,” Mr Melling said.

“We have faced the fuel and fertiliser crisis in March, alongside massive increases in input and operating costs.”

“Farmers have put an enormous amount of money on the line and we now need to get the crop harvested.

“If workforce disruptions mean we cannot get that job done efficiently, farmers could be left with a massive financial hole in their hip pocket.”

GPA CEO Duncan Bremner and chair Matthew Madden with Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins following their meeting in Parliament House last week. Photo: GPA

Grain Producers Australia chair Matthew Madden and chief executive officer Duncan Bremner met last Monday with Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins, and while visas are not part of Ms Collins’ portfolio, the issue was raised.

“We had a very productive and positive meeting with the Minister and her staff, and working holiday visa for backpackers and the timely processing needed for critical seasonal workforce demands was discussed,” Mr Bremner said.

During the meeting, Mr Madden and Mr Bremner also discussed national biosecurity arrangements, including the Ms Collins’ ongoing leadership in relation to bird flu, underwriting for fertiliser supply and workplace exposure limits and proposed changes to phosphine usage.

Source: NFF, VFF, GPA