Farmers are paying in excess of $3000 per worker to quarantine before they even hit the paddocks

Despite thousands of overseas workers already landing in the country, an additional 24,000 workers are needed for the upcoming season to harvest vegetable crops.

Broccoli almost ready for picking. Broccoli Generic. PHOTO: Ali Kuchel

Farmers are paying staggering amounts to get overseas workers through quarantine and onto farms to pick this season’s winter crops.

With no backpackers arriving into the country, the horticultural industry is struggling with one if its biggest labour hire shortages to date.

Growers are paying up to $3000 for each worker to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine before the workers set foot in the fields.

It’s forced horticulture body Ausveg to call for more Pacific Island workers to boost the crippled labour hire not just in the Lockyer Valley, but across Australia.

Modelling conducted by EY estimates that the industry continues to face severe labour shortages of up to 24,000 people for the coming peak harvest seasons.

Lockyer Valley farmers are still struggling to find harvest workers, including Blenheim farmer Raneece Lerch. PHOTO: Ali Kuchel

Ausveg national manager of public affairs Tyson Cattle said the horticulture body was a strong supporter of the seasonal worker program, which had brought in more than 10,000 workers since July last year.

“It’s great to see the Prime Minister’s commitment last Friday to bring in another 12,500 workers by March next year,” Mr Cattle said.

“However, despite its success, we are still well short of the workers we need.

“Growers are continuing to struggle to find the workers they need for their upcoming harvest.”

The Gatton Star spoke with Lockyer Valley grower Raneece Lerch recently, who said her family had investigated and trialled low-labour crops this year.

Ms Lerch said the family had “just got by” so far this season, with a small number of labour hire workers.

The next cohort of overseas workers to quarantine at the Grantham facility is expected to arrive on August 20.

But Lockyer farmers say more workers are required to pick this season’s crops and moving forward into next year.