Wednesday, 10 June 2020 12:01

Dairy farming facing potential labour shortage — Nats

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

National’s ag spokesperson David Bennett.

With thousands of migrant visas set to expire, National’s ag spokesperson David Bennett is urging the Government to act quickly to avoid a potential labour shortage for the calving season.

“There are currently 588 migrants on level 1 essential skills visas and a further 2566 on level 5 essential skills visas that are set to expire between the beginning of July and the end of September,” says Bennett.

“This is only counting those currently employed on dairy farms. There are thousands more migrant workers facing visa expiries across New Zealand’s primary industries,”

Bennett says these migrant workers are invaluable and farmers need continuity of employment as they head into calving season.

He says dairy farmers need assurance from the Government that they won’t be left in the lurch.

“Many of these visas expire from the 9^th of July so the Government needs to move quickly to provide dairy farmers assurance that they will not be facing a labour shortage during an already difficult season.

“Migrant workers are a valuable part of New Zealand’s dairy industry and the wider primary sector. The Government needs to support these workers and their employers.”

More like this

SWNZ Strengthens People Pillar for Global Markets

With ethical employment practices a "hot topic" in key markets, Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) is strengthening its People Pillar.

Utilise Overseas Ag Interns

OPINION: Farmers have been clear: it is getting harder, not easier, to find and keep good people.

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.

Sorry, not sorry

OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?

Featured

NZ First 'doesn't oppose trade element' of India FTA

Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson says his party – NZ First - isn’t opposed to the “trade element” of a free trade deal with India.

Lodestone's Solar Farm Clears Fast-Track Approval

The managing director of a company seeking to build a solar farm in Canterbury says receiving fast-track approval is a “really positive outcome”.

ACT MPs Slam Green Party's Fertiliser Ban Policy

Retiring MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron is blasting the Green Party for proposing to ban the use of synthetic fertiliser and cutting cow numbers.

NZ Farm Accident Claims Drop Nearly 35% Since 2020

A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small, practical decisions being made in sheds, yards, paddocks and around kitchen tables across the country, says Safer Farms ambassador Lindy Nelson.

Inside the Moxhams' Award-Winning Organic Dairy Farm

Wayne and Ange Moxham of Horowhenua have just been named as Fonterra's top organic performer for milksolids. As well as providing organic milk to Fonterra, the couple also sell Udderly Organic milk to more than 100 outlets in the region and are embarking on another exciting venture producing organic gelato. Reporter Peter Burke went along to see their farming operation.

Federated Farmers: Rural Voices Must Shape Reform

Certainty and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities is a critical outcome in the series of government reforms that are taking place at present.