Lockdown forces Victorian agriculture sectors to change plans

The 'circuit breaker' restrictions listed primary industries staff as essential workers, but "only to the extent necessary to ensure adequate supply of food to, and care of, animals and maintenance of crops."

Mr Andrews announced this morning that restrictions would end as planned at midnight, marking the end of a tense wait.

Many industries were able to keep operating as normal, but some sectors were forced to implement measures to ensure they complied with the restrictions.

Ennerdale Hereford's bull sale was scheduled to run on Wednesday but the stud made the call early to postpone the sale to March 15, announcing the change on Facebook.

Both Claremont Angus and Boonaroo Angus have their bull sales scheduled to run on Friday.

Boonaroo stud co-principal Jodie Foster said it was a difficult decision whether to proceed or not, as the stud needed to make a call by Tuesday at the latest to give enough notice to AuctionsPlus and for people who planned to travel to the sale.

After much discussion the stud decided to continue with the original date, but it had been difficult to make a call without official confirmation that the lockdown would end as planned, she said.

The severity of the restrictions, and the fact they were statewide as opposed to just Melbourne, had been a blow.

"It's unfortunate because it's been such a fantastic year, ag has been so buoyant and everyone's so excited," she said.

"All of a sudden going into lockdown... it just puts all this doubt in everyone's mind.

"We've done as much as we could to make this sale safe."

The stud would have a social distancing and buyers could watch cattle on a screen as well as in the ring, she said.

Fat markets scheduled over the lockdown period still went ahead.

Western Victoria Livestock Exchange manager Wayne Loader said only serious buyers were permitted to attend the prime market at Mortlake on Monday, with no vendors or visitors allowed.

He said face masks had to be worn and social distancing was also required.

Lower numbers of cattle allowed the sale to space out the pens as well, he said.

"Just back to original Covid lockdown which we'd been in for the last six months basically," he said.

"We had a couple of disappointed people who couldn't come but they understood the situation."

He said all prime markets were livestreamed and it was just a matter of making people aware that the sale would be broadcast.

"We know the principles, the procedures, and what it takes to put it into place," he said.

"At the end of the day we just do our best to fit in with the regulations and criteria.

"To be able to keep selling we have to abide by that principle and that routine - it is what it is."

Gypsum mine operators in the southern Mallee in Victoria were quickly reopened after being forced to remain closed Monday morning due to strict interpretations of Victorian COVID-19 shutdown orders by local law authorities.

Robert Lester, Albacutya Gypsum, said there was a directive from local police that the business was not to open Monday morning as an essential service as designated under the state's Stage 4 restriction.

In previous lockdowns, which only reached Stage 3, the company had been able to open, however this time, with the gypsum season in full swing, Mr Lester said they were told they did not meet the requirements to stay open.

A flurry of phone calls led to the ban being overturned Monday morning.

"We had some trucks arrive on Monday morning that had to be turned away but by about 10am we were able to text them to tell them we were right to go," Mr Lester said.

"It was an inconvenience, but given we don't open weekends it was only a couple of hours we missed and it could have been much worse."

Gypsum is a soil ameliorant used by many farmers on heavier ground to improve soils.

February is peak time for carting the mineral, which is then spread onto paddocks before autumn sowing.

Victorian Farmers Federation grains group Wimmera representative Ryan Milgate said the timing of the snap closure could not have been worse.

"Thank goodness it was resolved quickly because a lot of people are flat out trying to get gypsum back to their farm and many in the Western District, who have to cart the product long distances, are already behind the eight ball because of the summer rain which delayed them finishing harvest," he said.

Victoria Police have been contacted for clarification.

Under the previous restrictions, all Victorian meat processors were required to scale back the workforce by a third following outbreaks of COVID-19.

The reduced capacity was maintained even as the rest of the state had restrictions eased, drawing criticism from industry bodies.

The Australian Meat Industry Council confirmed that all processors were operating as normal this time around, with no change to staffing levels and no issuing of worker permits.