Despite recent set backs due to wet weather and mechanical breakdowns, canegrowers in the Mackay region fear a shortage of haulout operators may cause further disruptions to the 2021 harvest.
Canegrowers Mackay chief executive officer Kerry Latter said the issue emerged last year with COVID restricting the movement of Australians, but this year the problem had become more urgent.
"Due to COVID-19, grey nomads and backpackers who would usually be making the trip up north at this time of year are no longer coming and the locals have already been snapped up," he said.
"We know that other sectors such as retail are also having difficulty finding casual workers. We always keep in regular touch with local employment agencies in town and this year they have hardly had anyone on their books."
Mr Latter said this year's harvest had been particularly difficult for some growers who were concerned over whether or not they'd be unable to harvest their entire crop.
Mackay producer Stephen Muscat has 250ha of farming land between Oakenden and Homebush, where he produces around 25,000 tonnes of cane.
He had been experiencing labor shortages since August this year.
"This year there just doesn't seem to be the people available or willing to do the role," he said.
"At the moment we are stretched to our limits and we rely on that extra labor coming in to help us with that.
"Previously you always knew of someone through someone else that was looking for a role, and you could throw an add out in the paper or on social media. I haven't seen it in a situation like it is this year, its frightening."
While border lockdowns and travel restrictions have certainly had an impact on farming businesses, he is unsure if COVID is the only thing to blame for this shortage.
"Whether the shortage is COVID related or not I'm unsure, but what does seem to be lacking is the willingness of people wanting to work in the industry," he said.
"I think Australia's unemployment rate is something like 4.5 per cent. That's generally a pretty good rate but the way I look at it, we still have 4.5pc of people out there that could be in a workforce doing something.
"I would like to see our government step up more to try and support some of their industries."
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