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UK Visa Processing Delays Threaten Sheep Shearing for British Farmers
British farmers face challenges in obtaining visas for overseas sheep shearers due to a three-month processing backlog at the Home Office. The National Association of Agricultural Contractors estimates that more than 1.5 million sheep could remain unshorn as a result. The government has extended the seasonal visa concession scheme but expects a transition to domestic labor.
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shearing is necessary for wool production and to prevent health issues such as overheating and fly strike, where insects lay eggs in soiled fleece areas, leading to maggots burrowing into the animal's flesh.
A New Zealand shearer described the work as involving 10 hours in a paddock, shearing up to 350 sheep per day. He noted that the job requires significant skill and that British farmers relied on New Zealand shearers two years ago. >"It's pretty full on..."
The farming industry maintains that developing a domestic workforce to meet demand is not feasible in a reasonable timeframe. The chairman of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors' shearing committee stated that few British workers are interested in the physically demanding labor for a short season with no year-round employment prospects.
Reaching the required standard takes years of practice, with top shearers handling up to 20,000 sheep per season.
A farmer who farms 12,000 sheep acquired his skills through a reciprocal arrangement in New Zealand.
He said that producing more shearers cannot happen overnight or even within 12 months. Communication issues between government departments have been reported.
At an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee meeting in early March, Defra's permanent secretary said he did not know the plan for addressing the issue. Defra's chief financial officer and acting chief operating officer acknowledged at the same meeting that he had never visited a farm.
The Home Office maintains that UK Visas and Immigration does not recognize delays in processing these visa applications.
The chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee stated that departments are not communicating effectively. He called for ministers to observe large-scale shearing operations firsthand. The situation affects animal welfare, as unshorn sheep risk health complications during warmer months.
