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Given the importance of backpackers for picking and packing fruit crops, the Commonwealth Government has recently announced some changes that will make it easier to find backpackers who want to work on farms and enable them to work and stay longer in Australia. The main changes are:
-From the 5th of November 2018, expanding the regional areas where 462 visa holders (China, Indonesia, USA, Chile, Argentina) can work to get a 2nd year visa extension – currently they can only get an extension by working in northern Australia.
-From the 5th of November 2018, 417 and 462 visa holders can work with one employer for 12 months, an increase from the current 6 months.
-After the 1st of July 2019, 417 and 462 visa holders will have the option of getting a third year visa if they do six months of specified work in a rural area.
-Progressively increasing the country caps for some 462 visa holders.
-Increase the age of 417 visa holders from Canada and Ireland to 35.
The key focus is on providing immediate access to workers in key rural areas. Employers will be able to retain trained and experienced employees for up to 12 months, rather than the previous six months.
Source: MADEC
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With the current rain events this season, Serve-Ag Tasmania have been kind enough to share some advice in relation to managing split fruit.
Please see attached document for this very helpful article.
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Despite most farmers praying for rain for most of the year, cherry growers across the region have enjoyed the dry conditions.
Benalla grower Mark Foletta said the dry conditions had limited the risk of disease.
‘‘The dry conditions have meant disease pressures are relatively low,’’ he said.
‘‘With the dry conditions, they are less prone to brown rot. I use no chemical fungicides so the dry conditions have taken the pressure off.’’
Mr Foletta — who has 1200 trees of varieties such as Royal Dawn, Black Star and Lapin — is expecting to harvest an average of 1.5 to 2tonnes of the fruit most popular at Christmas time. Read more of this Shepparton Country News article........
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