Backpackers fleeing the capital cities for work on the land are reconnecting with former employers in a bid to stay safe and healthy while remaining in Australia to see out their visas.

Key points: Backpackers report relief at finding work and accommodation on farms during coronavirus after losing jobs in cities

Backpackers report relief at finding work and accommodation on farms during coronavirus after losing jobs in cities Some have been quarantined by employers before they start work, for the protection of locals

Some have been quarantined by employers before they start work, for the protection of locals Farmers report that it is a challenge to accommodate everyone and would welcome government assistance

Many have welcomed the Federal Government's announcement that any who commit to working in critical industries, such as food supply and healthcare, will be able to extend their visas beyond the expected coronavirus peak.

French working visa holders Yoann Tahet and Anthony Martorell and Briton, Alex Butler, worked on a pineapple farm north of Townsville, in north Queensland last picking season and returned after losing their city jobs in hospitality when Australia's restaurants and bars closed.

"Luckily I could still get work," Mr Butler said.

"I lost my job, lost my house in Melbourne. So I messaged the farm and just got straight back up here."

Under the Government's new scheme, working holidaymakers, as well as visa holders under the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme, can now extend their stay for up to 12 months to work for approved employers, to ensure food security during the coronavirus pandemic.

Backpackers have inundated their former farm employers with requests to return to secure employment in rural Australia, which they consider safer than the major centres. ( ABC Rural: Tom Major )

'The best place to be'

The trio arrived back at Rollingstone, 40 kilometres from Townsville, in late March, just prior to borders closing for non-essential workers.

Finding accommodation and reassuring family back home was behind their decision to return to the bush, despite having completed their 88 days compulsory farm work, to gain second-year visas.

"We'd already been to the farm and we knew it was the best place to be — the safest place," Mr Tahet said.

Mr Butler said the situation in Melbourne and Sydney was more worrying for his family in England and they were pleased he has found relative safety in north Queensland.

"They're quite happy I'm on the farm to be honest, I was in Melbourne where there's obviously way more cases than up here — they're actually quite happy I came to the farm," he said.

"I don't know if happy is the right word, but it's a good farm, I'm glad I can have a job in a situation like this," Mr Martorell said.

"In France they have been in quarantine for a month, it's a bad situation over there."

Rian Pace says the upcoming season will be about balancing labour hire between out-of-work locals and former staff who know the requirements of the job. ( ABC Rural: Tom Major )

Quarantine measures

Labour manager for Pace Farming, Rian Pace, said the decision to quarantine the workers for two weeks before they began work was based on caution.

"Two out of the four came in on the Thursday, the day after the quarantine period started," he said.

"We could have applied for an exemption so they could have started work straight away.

"Because of the community we're in, there's older Australians working in the business, we decided it's safer to quarantine them for 14 days."

The business produces pineapples, melons and pumpkins, relying on a mixture of local labour and backpackers from April through until early January.

Mr Pace has fielded double the usual number of inquiries from prospective workers, many of whom are unemployed backpackers desperate to leave the cities.

"Over the last couple of weeks we've had over 100 inquiries, sometimes singly, usually two or three or four people at once," he said.

Accommodation remains a challenge

Mr Pace said he would preference any eligible workers with experience in agriculture, irrespective of their nationality.

"We're in unprecedented waters — its going to be a juggling act, obviously we'll give preference to those who've worked for us before," he said.

"We really have to make sure we look after the locals as well.

"I don't know how we're going to manage it but we'll try and get through it and give as many people jobs as we can."

Mr Pace said the business has a limited ability to quarantine the staff needed for the season ahead and was looking forward to more assistance and support from government to do so.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the Commonwealth's Chief Medical Officer was working with state and territory counterparts to find accommodation for those isolating.

"There's a number of facilities out there in regional Australia, caravan parks, even motels that don't have the patronage they did before," he said.

"This is an important aspect to give confidence to those people in regional Australia who in some respects have seen themselves isolated from the effects of coronavirus."