How the Covid pandemic exposed deep cracks in the Australian farm labour model

Astute farm business owners and managers are recognising the need to invest in and develop their people - whether they are related or not

The Covid pandemic turned off the cheap labour tap. That has delivered a come to Jesus" moment for employers of farm labour.

But people shortages are not a new thing in the bush. The underemployment dilemma has been building for a while. John Goldsmith, the former principal of Longerenong Agricultural College, said a decade ago: It's not a skills shortage, it's a people shortage."