CENTRAL Victorian farmers have welcomed changes to the permit system, allowing them to enter NSW after a temporary ban.
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But they say more changes are needed to support Victorian agricultural workers who work across the border.
Changes to the system this month left some of the region's farmers without access to permits, despite having farmland in NSW.
But a new entry permit introduced on Monday allows critical Victorian agricultural workers to access NSW, for work within 100 kiolmetres in Victoria.
Nanneella resident Adam Whipp said the new permit system was a task half done, needing more changes for contracters.
Mr Whipp lives just outside the border bubble, but leases farmland in Moama and Barmah, both in NSW. He also does contract harvest work in Bunnaloo and Mathoura.
When Mr Whipp's agricultural entry permit expired a few weeks ago he was able to get one to pick up his children from kindergarten, but not for farm work.
He has been unable to access his leased land in NSW for the past few weeks, on which he grows wheat and canola.
Mr Whipp has got one of the new border passes just in time to spray the crops.
But he says the 100 kilometre rule may limit his ability to take on contract harvest work, which will start in spring.
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Mr Whipp said this would be worse for some bigger harvest contractors, who would regularly travel further than 100 kilometres north of the border to take on work.
"They've had two or three years of no harvest work because of the drought, it's the golden year, and they're restricted by red tape," he said.
Pyramid Hill farmer Peter Tuohey said checking livestock in NSW was a huge issue for some farmers in the region.
The effects of the border closure on his business have been limited, meaning he needed to get a permit to transport wool across the river.
Mr Tuohey has also put off buying some machinery, and expects to be unable to attend ram sales in NSW.
He said many Victorian farmers would be unable to go to big sheep sales in Deniliquin and Hay, making it harder for them to restock.
The new Highly Specialised Critical Services (Agriculture) Permit allows farmers and farm workers to enter NSW for work within 100 kilometres of the border. The permit requires these people to self-isolate when they are not at work.
They must not have travelled more than 100 kilometres into Victoria in the past 14 days.
The Victorian Farmers Federation welcomed the change, saying there were serious concerns about the effect of border closures on the agricultural supply chain.
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