Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith travelled to East Sussex during the most recent episode of the BBC programme to speak with farmer Frank Langrish about visa alterations affecting one particular group of workers. With approximately 4,000 sheep in his flock requiring shearing, he discussed the matter of overseas sheep shearers being permitted to work in the UK for a longer period.
Life and death consequences for sheep
The Countryfile star informed viewers: "With a short window of a few weeks to shear, Frank says the job can mean the difference between life and death for some of his flock." He explained to the BBC presenter that at this time of year, the sheep carry extremely heavy fleeces, which could cause them to become stuck and, within a short period, perish. He further revealed that they could also get 'eaten alive with maggots' as the warmth attracts flies, underlining the urgency of removing the wool from the sheep promptly.
Scale of the shearing challenge
As Charlotte explained to viewers, roughly 15 million sheep require shearing across Britain, a task that typically falls to farmers themselves, though some operations bring in additional specialists to assist. Countryfile viewers discovered that professionals from Australia and New Zealand travel over to lend a hand, as they are capable of shearing hundreds of sheep daily. Frank recalled that he once employed a young woman who could shear 400 sheep in a single day.
Visa changes and temporary reprieve
Commonly referred to as Antipodean shearers, they have been a staple of British farming for many decades. However, earlier this February, the government announced it would not be permitting foreign shearers to work in the country over the summer. Although the government subsequently announced a temporary visa reprieve, permitting overseas shearers to work in the country for one final summer. This year, for the first time, individuals were required to pay £700, a figure expected to rise considerably next year should they opt to use a two-year Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
Concerns for smaller farmers
While Frank is able to call upon trained family members to assist on his farm, he raised concerns about what the changes to visa regulations could mean for others. He told Charlotte: "I'm very worried because, you know, it's not only going to add a lot of extra cost, but the animal welfare issues will be huge. We are a relatively well-organised, but there are lots of smaller farmers who really won't get the shearers to come in and do the sheep at all."
Government response and training investment
Despite the government being unavailable for an interview with Countryfile, the Home Office informed the BBC programme that 'this had been the final extension for visa concessions.' Charlotte told viewers: "A government spokesperson said such concessions were temporary and designed to give sectors in the UK space to build a resilient, domestic workforce. They said they've been working closely with the farmers' organisation British Wools to train more sheep shearers, adding that 'Since 2021, the British Wool have invested more than £67,000 to support over 800 trainees and produce 317 commercially qualified sheep shearers.'" The BBC presenter explained that the government had announced temporary visa arrangements, which have offered a 'much-needed' supply of commercial shearers while domestic training continues to expand.
Countryfile is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
