COVID-19 restrictions mean farmers are struggling to source skilled farm workers from Europe this harvest.

WA’s grain industry has warned it cannot safely harvest its $5 billion crop this year unless governments provide support to import skilled European farm workers. WAFarmers grains section president Mic Fels said the State’s grain growers needed at least an extra 1000 skilled drivers and operators to support farmers and permanent staff during harvest. COVID-19 travel restrictions mean there is a major shortage of skilled European workers for the WA harvest that starts in September and this year covers a record 8.5 million hectares. The looming shortage has prompted farmers, the Nationals WA and recruitment agency 2 Workin Oz to lobby the Federal and State Governments to provide a suitable visa pathway and clarity over quarantine requirements. Further staff are also needed for driving and operating other equipment such as chaser bins and balers. Esperance farmer Dave Cox said farmers typically sought experienced staff, who also worked on European farms where the harvest window is earlier in the year. Mr Cox said while farmers always looked locally for workers, those with appropriate experience and skills were difficult to find for seasonal work and it was crucial the industry could access the talent they needed from Europe. “There are big concerns about how we can harvest safely without enough skilled and experienced staff,” he said. The European skilled workers are needed to help drive sophisticated headers (combine harvesters), many of which have 600 horse power and are worth more than $800,000. Ley Webster, owner of 2 Workin Oz, said inexperienced drivers presented safety issues. A big concern was without sufficient staff numbers, fewer people would drive for longer, which also prompted major safety concerns, she said. Nationals WA agriculture spokesman Colin de Grussa said crops would dry and wither unless harvested promptly. He said any delays would lead to reduced yields and financial returns. Mr de Grussa asked Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to approach the Immigration Minister for a suitable visa pathway to be expedited. He has also asked WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan whether overseas workers would be allowed to quarantine on farm, though said farmers were prepared to pay for hotel quarantine if needed. A State Government spokesperson said international arrivals were the only current source of COVID-19 in WA, and hotel quarantine had ensured those cases did not spread into the community. Mr Littleproud said there were options for overseas workers with critical skills to seek an exemption from the Australian Border Force Commissioner. Ms Webster said alongside efforts to get European workers into WA, the grain industry was also offering farm harvest skills and heavy machinery training, aiming to upskill locals for roles such as chaser bin driving.