Two hundred rural contracting drivers will be granted special visas as part of a border exemption for the industry.

The farming sector is grateful, but worries drivers will be delayed by the MIQ lottery system.

This farm machinery is more transformer than tractor and takes highly-skilled drivers to operate.

Usually 400 come here from overseas - but only 125 have been allowed in.

"It's the worst season that any of the contractors have ever experienced," Rural Contractors NZ CEO Andrew Olsen says.

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