Farm worker shortage expected to worsen as industry body says 26,000 workers needed nationwide by March

Farmers have blamed a lack of international farm workers for crop losses of more than $22 million as fruit and vegetables continue to rot in fields.

The losses were reported anonymously by about 30 farmers within the week after the soft launch of the National Lost Crop Register created by the National Farmers’ Federation Horticulture Council.

Growcom advocacy manager Richard Shannon said the lost crop register was launched to highlight the…