Farmers will rank their local MPs on a website set up to give bush voters a voice in the looming NSW election campaign.
The NSW Farmers' Association is launching a campaign using social media and online voting to push the interests of farmers, rural businesses and rural communities before the March 28 poll.
Drought worries, better roads and rail and protection of land and water resources are among key issues highlighted by the farming body that will seek to unite farmers behind the hashtag #standup4farmers.
A new website, www.standupforfarmers.com.au, includes a rating system that allows bush voters to give their local MP a score out of 10 and share their evaluation with others.
A series of "meet the candidate" town hall events will be held during February and March.
A NSW Farmers spokeswoman said the online campaign would also identify the issues of greatest concern for rural voters in the lead-up to the election.
Mining and groundwater protection are likely to be raised as key issues in regions such as the Hunter Valley and Liverpool Plains, where coal mine developments such as Anglo-American's Drayton South and Shenhua's Watermark have sparked opposition from farmers and environment groups.
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