The service will put potential employees, with the relevant skills and experience, in touch with businesses to ensure vacancies are filled in the coming months, addressing any potential labour shortages in the sector caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Skills matching forms are easy to complete and can be completed online at www.wales.lantra.co.uk.

For individuals that do not have access to a computer or do not have the right IT skills, the Farming Connect Service Centre will be able to complete the forms online on their behalf

Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “We are all concerned about the impact Covid-19 is having on our Welsh agriculture and horticultural sectors, as well as our daily lives. Labour shortages, potentially, could prove to be a particular issue this summer.

“Sadly, if a member of a farming family or an employee of the business were to become ill, it is likely that a number of family members or employees would also become ill due to the nature of the work environment and the way the disease spreads. This could leave daily tasks uncompleted, with a detrimental effect on the business and possibly even causing serious animal health and welfare issues.

“We are committed to putting people into employment: supporting our agriculture and horticultural sectors: ensuring supply chains can keep food flowing to people’s homes and helping our rural economy.

“The new service run by Lantra will help us address this, matching skilled people with employers looking for workers such as sheep shearers, sheep dipping contractors, foot trimmers, fruit pickers and vets to jobs in less than 14 days.”

Sarah Lewis, Deputy Director of Lantra Wales, said: “We have developed the Skills Matching Service during this difficult time to ensure that businesses can continue with daily tasks, should a family member or an employee fall ill, and no longer be able to work.

“The service will be able to match individuals who can work, either temporarily or longer-term, with businesses in need of additional labour during the Covid-19 outbreak.

She added: “The process to register, either as an individual looking for employment or as a business looking for additional support, is very simple

“Once an application form is completed, we will do the work of matching up individuals and businesses based on skills, demand and location.”