Shepparton coronavirus outbreak impacts agriculture

Murray Dairy chief executive and regional manager Jenny Wilson said this had impacted a small number of farms but it was not expected to affect supply.

She said all affected business had managed to put plans in place to continue operating but it highlighted how important it was for farmers to be prepared.

"We know at a farm level it's really important the cows continue to be milked, stock cared for, milk continues to be collected by the processors," she said.

"Making sure those systems can remain in place becomes really important in a situation like this."

Murray Dairy had held two information webinars for farmers so far, which included advice from health experts.

Some things farmers needed to be across included instructions to start up and shut down in case relief staff were required to help, keeping visitors to the farm to a minimum, and ensuring staff stayed in worker bubbles to limit any crossover.

"Dairy's an enormous industry in our region, with over 8000 people employed either on-farm, in the processing sector, or in the broader service sector," she said.

"It makes a huge contribution to our regional economy as well so it's really important that right across the whole supply chain, we remain operational and we all work collectively."

The organistaion had also started an initiative called Covid Cover, which listed experienced dairy farm operators who could come and relieve a farm business that was impacted.

Northern Victoria Livestock agent Jayden Ferrari said while stock agents were still able to visit farms as essential workers, everyone was being more cautious.

"Obviously our job is to cover a fair few farms so you're trying to watch what you're doing at the same time, because you just don't know," Mr Ferrari said.

"It is starting to take its toll, we've had a few clients that have said they haven't had workers come to work because they've had children being in the schools or whatever so they've had to isolate.

"Regardless of COVID, the workers have been in scarce numbers as it is anyway.

"There's a lot of operations that have been shut down due to not being able to source workers, or especially dairy farmers, reducing herd sizes purely and simply off not being able to source workers.

"It was already hard and now it's a lot harder."

He said the introduction of worker permits had also made things more challenging.

He said some dairy farmers had workers who were unsure if they were allowed to attend work even though agriculture was recognised as an essential industry.

"Fair enough they've got to lock things down but as far as rural goes, rural survives on people being able to work," he said.

"The average age of a lot of dairy farmers is probably higher than anywhere else - a lot of those people aren't technology-savvy.

"As far as downloading permits and things like that, we've had to help a few out.

"I had a client today, he normally milks 700 to 800 cows but he's cut back to 350 purely and simply because of workers."

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The Victorian Farmers Federation had developed a similar concept in the Farmy Army, where farmers could register relief workers or donate essential produce or resources.

VFF vice president Danyel Cucinotta said the Farmy Army was a proactive response to help those in need.

"We've put the call out to all willing and able farmers and their communities throughout Victoria to form the Farmy Army to help with current issues such a labour and donating essential produce or resources," Ms Cucinotta said.

"Currently there's a clear need for help in the Shepparton region, but the initiative is intended to direct help to anywhere in Victoria should the need arise."

She encouraged anyone who needed assistance or who was interested in registering to help to contact the VFF.

Scott Donaldson, AWN Robson Donaldson, said saleyards were still operating but agents were using minimal staff and only registered buyers were permitted.

Mr Donaldson said prices had not been impacted.

He said the only disruption was Gathercole's Tatura abattoir which had stopped killing early in the week due to staff shortages, with cattle instead processed at Wangaratta.

Two weeks ago, Plunkett Orchards near Shepparton had about 65 employees working on-farm.

But the coronavirus outbreak in the town caused the orchard's two main tractor drivers and two of its four managers to isolate.

Orchard manager Jason Shield was in isolation for a week before being cleared.

Mr Shield said while the company had been able to manage, it had been a real eye opener.

"It could have been an absolute disaster," he said.

"Three weeks ago we were two weeks behind... we probably doubled our staff crew and then one week in to looking after them, we've literally lost half our people that are key to the business.

"We can just see the potential that this could be a really big problem.

"We're going through the thought process now of how us four supervisors can not have any contact with each other for the next six months."

The business did have a COVID contingency plan in place but the situation had hit close to home.

Worker bubbles had been created to limit crossover between staff, but this posed a challenge whenever there were staff shortages.

The shed and orchard staff were now being split into groups and were trying to limit any facilities, such as toilets, that had to be shared.

"It's been an eye opener of how quick things can happen," he said.

"We just can't shut down for two weeks."

The next four weeks were a crucial time for him at work and although he was avoiding visiting supermarkets and other places as much as possible, there was always a risk that someone in his family could visit an exposure site that could lead to having to isolate again.

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