LABOUR shortages are expected to plague farming families harvesting Australia's biggest wheat crop in 25 years.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics has estimated a 22.1-million tonne crop, the biggest since 1984.
The prediction spurred larger grain handlers, including Viterra, AWB, GrainCorp and CBH, to start hiring up to 6000 casual workers two months earlier than in previous years.
AWB spokesman Ian Desborough said the grain marketer and handler began recruiting this month, anticipating 28 per cent more casual workers would be needed, particularly in Victoria and NSW.
"We have started our recruitment campaign earlier because of the competition and we are trying to secure our workforce and are conscious of the fact it is difficult to find the people we need," Mr Desborough said.
National Farmers' Federation general manager Denita Wawn said the trend of larger companies recruiting early would make it difficult for farming families to find workers and urged smaller operators to consider recruiting and training now.
"They (larger operations) will be snapping them up, which will put more stress on farmers and their families to do it themselves, which means a higher risk and more accidents," Ms Wawn said.
Ms Wawn said the labour shortage was a result of fewer overseas contractors being permitted to work in Australia. She said the Federal Government had removed a provision in the 457 visa. This provision allowed overseas agricultural contractors to work in Australia for the harvest.
NSW Farmers Association grains committee chairman Mark Hoskinson said remote areas would suffer most from the shortage.
"I think it will certainly be an issue in small towns," Mr Hoskinson said. "They will find it hard to attract workers and harvesting contractors are harder to find each year."
