The Barnawartha saleyards have been cut off by just metres in a bizarre anomaly in the new border bubble.
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The Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange Murray Valley Highway address falls just short of the blue zone but the yards, which are set back from the highway, are believed to be included in the border zone.
Under the NSW Health rules, any NSW resident who goes outside the border zone is required to isolate on their return to the state, even if they are just travelling through in a vehicle.
But because the agriculture sector is classified as an essential service, transporting livestock from NSW to Victoria is allowed, but farmers who live outside the cross border zone can't stay for the sale.
The "lack of common sense" has the Victorian Farmers Federation concerned there will be an impact locally.
Livestock councillor and Talgarno farmer Peter Star told The Border Mail it is vital for producers to be able to access sale points on both sides of the border.
"It is important for producers who are outside this zone can access the market at Barnawartha, but also at Corowa or Wangaratta or Wagga," he said.
"It is a very limited zone and it is very restrictive for livestock to go to markets.
"Your carriers have to get the passes as well.
"Why should someone from Holbrook who is trying to put cattle to market at Barnawartha have to isolate when they come home.
"That is ludicrous.
"The reality of it is - they will get to Barnawartha but they wont get home.
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"If they have the right permit they will just have to drop the cattle off and go straight back home.
"Agriculture is an essential service and farmers and carriers need to have the opportunity to get livestock to these sale points."
Regional Livestock Exchanges, which operates the Barnawartha site, said after some initial confusion, the organisation has been able to achieve "clarity" on the new permit system.
General operations manager Cye Travers said the impact on the business has been minimal.
"Because we are part of the essential services supply chain we, as part of agriculture, are exempt from a lot of those requirements.
"A vendor for example from NSW would not be able to attend the sale - they would be transport their livestock there and drop them off but they wouldn't be able to attend the sale."
"Approximately half of our staff are affected by the bubble.
"We have applied for the new permits and been successful in that, but we did spend a lot of time getting it right."
The Barnawartha saleyards held a sale on Thursday without any permit dramas.
"We did have to help a few producers get the right permit, but we have been following COVID guidelines out here for months now so the extra time spent for the right permit was just another thing we had to do to remain safe," Mr Travers said.
Just north of the river, the Corowa Saleyards falls within that border bubble, but the council-run operation hasn't been immune to the challenges of the pandemic.
Federation Council mayor Pat Bourke said council continues to adapt to the many challenges COVID-19 presents.
"On any typical day the Corowa Saleyards would be bustling with agents, buyers and other key stakeholders," he said. "From March this year, things have certainly been very different.
"Federation Council has been proactive from the beginning of the pandemic to ensure the sale can continue on a weekly basis and ensure sheep can continue to be delivered to the market.
"Controls have included limiting attendance to essential personnel only and enforcing state government restrictions in regards to social distancing and personal hygiene.
"The latest COVID-19 safety plan now includes temperature testing of everyone in attendance and wearing of face masks mandatory for anyone coming from declared Melbourne hotspots.
"Up to 40 per cent of stock comes from Victoria, however, transporters and essential personnel have been able to obtain border entry permits which has allowed the sale to continue."
While the number of livestock sold at the yards in the 2019-20 was down by more than 100,000 on the 12 months prior, the sale values are continuing to rise.
The 674,304 head sold last financial year made $123,682,743.90. In 2018-19 794,268 head fetched $115,551,674.92.
"Recent upgrades to the facility and strong management has ensured the saleyards is one of the most highly regarded and utilised livestock facilities in the state," Cr Bourke said.