Farmers say availability of harvest workers has improved
Sourcing harvest workers has been easier for farmers this year who say they have been able to find header and chaser bin drivers and retain employees.
Farmers say the 2024 harvest is the first since the Covid-19 pandemic that hasn’t presented challenges in sourcing seasonal workers.
From northern NSW to Western Australia and throughout Victoria, farmers say they have been able to either source header and chaser bin drivers or retain employees throughout the year.
Wimmera and Millewa cropping farmer Craig Henderson said he had four people from New Zealand and five from Canada who were helping with the 2024 harvest.
Mr Henderson said a couple of the employees had worked for him before.
“We are all doing alright this year, and I haven’t heard anyone complaining,” he said.
Mr Henderson said haymaking had already kicked off, and grain harvest would start at Berriwillock by the end of the week.
“During Covid, all we heard about was staff and worker shortages. I think as an industry, we have made improvements,” he said.
Mr Henderson said farmers could get the same people to return to work for consecutive seasons.
Tocumwal, NSW hay and fodder contractor Phil Snowden said the key for him was an ability to retain employees year-round rather than just at harvest. Having irrigation meant that there was scope for employing people for 12 months of the year, rather than calling people in during the busy time at harvest.
GrainGrowers chairman and York, Western Australia farmer Rhys Turton said the ability to source workers was back to “normal levels” after the Covid challenges.
Mr Turton said in Western Australia farmers were training backpackers.
“This year, I haven’t heard of worker shortages; I’m certainly not hearing of immediate concerns,” he said.
“Workers are putting themselves out there; we are seeing ads for people looking for harvest work this year.
“I really think, as an industry, we have made some headway on this one; it is something that has improved in recent years, and it doesn’t seem as urgent as it was.”
Meanwhile, from July 1 2024, the Fair Work Commission announced a National Minimum Wage increase from $915.90 a week, equating to $24.10 an hour.
The increase is a 3.75 per cent increase.
Push for port code to tackle costs and bottlenecks
Farmers and industry leaders are pushing for reforms to the Wheat Port Code, saying sweeping changes are needed and the code should be mandatory.
List: Grain and oilseed prices
Canola prices have increased to $830/tonne in Victoria and wheat is tracking higher at $351/tonne. See how grain and oilseed prices are performing this week.