Katherine Singer, who farms with husband Chris in Upper Coquetdale in Northumberland and used a team from New Zealand for many years, has described the decision as “a kick in the teeth”.
“A lot of our shearers learn from the Kiwi team and go out there, so it’s very unfair if we can travel there but they can’t come here any more,” she said.
Charles Hedley, who has 1,200 acres near Bishop Auckland in County Durham and uses a team which includes a shearer from Chile, characterises the government’s decision as “a bit wierd”.
“There’s such a short weather window for shearing, we just can’t get the job done without international shearers,” he said.
“I don’t understand why they can’t see that.”