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Vegetable growers consider quitting

By Andy Wilson

Sep 19, 2024

Nationals leader David Littleproud and his federal team in Canberra on Tuesday, September 10. Mr Littleproud said Australia risked a third of vegetable growers quitting. “And no farmers means no food.”

Australian households have been given a dire cost-of-living warning, with 34 per cent of the nation’s vegetable growers considering leaving the industry in the next 12 months.

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Peak group AUSVEG’s latest Vegetable Industry Sentiment Report also shows 50 per cent of growers are financially worse off than they were in June 2023.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said if farmers left the industry, supply would go down and prices would go up.

“Australia risks a third of growers quitting and no farmers means no food,” Mr Littleproud said.

Mr Littleproud said about 38 per cent of growers’ costs were wages and almost half of growers surveyed indicated they were experiencing workforce shortages across full-time, part-time and casual positions.

“The report found changes to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme under Labor rendered it unworkable for many growers, (and) there is enormous concern over the 88-day backpacker rule as well,” he said.

“Worryingly, the overwhelming majority of farmers surveyed believe employment problems will remain the same or worsen into the future.”