Another Area That is Finding it Tough is the Shearing Industry

Another area that is finding it tough is the shearing industry. Shearing contractors are used to juggling  the usual challenges such as inclement weather but with the level 4 lockdown falling at their busiest time of year they are under real pressure. Federated Farmers  meat and wool chair Greg Anderson says under level 4 social distancing and mask wearing means there is room for fewer shearers and it takes longer to complete daily tallies when you have get pre-lamb shearing done in time. One South Canterbury Shearing says his business could lose up to $60,000 if the lockdown is extended. He’s also coping with a backlog of 10 days, because of bad weather and now the lockdown. Lambing in the lower South Island is about to get underway. Under its Covid-19 protocols, MPI considers shearing an essential service only when it involves animal welfare, or if it was undertaken to enable hygienic processing of the sheep.