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Lost crops costing farmers’ mental health
The scarcity of seasonal workers continues to impact growers as crop losses climb to over $45 million this week.
The labour shortage is a result of Federal and state government decisions to restrict the movement of people through the Australian border in order to manage the human health impacts of COVID-19.
Sixty-five separate crop losses from five states and territories have now reported on the National Crop Lost Crop Register.
Growcom’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Barnard, said the current labour shortage is impacting businesses and livelihoods industry wide.
“We are witnessing a concerning number of growers reporting not just financial losses, but also a decline in mental health, strain on personal finances, and doubt surrounding their future participation in the industry,” he said.
Labor Pushes Government to Address Shortfall in Farm Hands
Labor is calling on the Morrison government to address the issue of understaffed farmers resulting in Aussie growers losing more than AU$40 million (US$30.1 million) as unpicked crops rot.
The move is led by Opposition Agricultural Minister Ed Husic, who is hoping for an urgent meeting of state and federal ministers to address the crisis.
In a letter to Agricultural Minister David Littleproud, Husic called on the federal government to respond to the nationwide shortage of more than 26,000 farmworkers.
“The states and territories have taken steps to provide farmers with workers,” Husic wrote in the letter seen by AAP.