Grain Producers SA says the state is on track for its second-largest harvest on record, but a shortage of skilled machinery operators – exacerbated by slower visa processing – could derail plans. Speaking to ABC South-East on 15 September, chief executive Brad Perry said “hundreds, if not thousands” of seasonal workers still lack visa approvals only weeks before headers roll. Growers usually rely on backpackers and skilled WHM entrants to operate modern harvesters that can cost more than AU$850,000. Delays mean some farmers may have to run older, slower equipment or work dangerously long hours. Grain Producers SA fears this could lead to crop losses if adverse weather arrives, and increase on-farm safety incidents. The federal government attributes the slowdown to record WHM numbers already in Australia and to its broader review of migration settings. However, state growers argue that South Australia’s regional workforce needs differ from metropolitan areas and deserve separate processing priorities. Industry is urging Canberra to temporarily increase on-shore visa allocations or fast-track PALM workers trained in machinery operation. Without a fix, bulk-handling group Viterra says shipping schedules could slip, risking late-delivery penalties for exporters and damaging Australia’s reliability in Asian grain markets. The episode highlights how even localised visa bottlenecks can have national supply-chain consequences – an issue agribusinesses want addressed in the government’s forthcoming Migration Strategy White Paper.
Source: ABC News (South East SA)
