A severe shortage of tractor drivers has prompted an international hunt for skilled machinery operators for the 2019 silage season.

Contractors say they are struggling to get seasonal skilled machinery operators within Ireland and even within Europe.

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) is now looking at New Zealand, Australia and South Africa as potential sources-- of skilled drivers.

Its chief executive Richard White has written to Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation Heather Humphreys, seeking a temporary and targeted work permit scheme for farm machinery operators in those countries to work here.

In his letter to Minister Humphreys, White warned that without a permit scheme, some farm contractors would be forced out of business by the skilled driver shortage.

“It’s a major issue and it’s going to get worse. Those people are just not there, for a number of reasons. They can get far more money for easier jobs. There are more options for them now and the interest is just not in it,” White told the Irish Farmers Journal.

White said drivers in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have the modern machinery skills, language skills and farming experience to meet the seasonal needs of Irish contractors.

They use identical farm machinery to Irish contractors, are available for the Irish season and can return to their native country for their own busy season.

With ever bigger and more expensive silage outfits costing up to €500,000, contractors say they need properly skilled drivers.

“Any tractor now costs €100,000,” said White. “You need drivers to be experienced.”

Farm contractors in Ireland employ almost 10,000 people and operate more than 20,000 tractors or a third of the national fleet.