FARMERS aren't being properly represented within the Federal Government on water issues, the coalition's new agriculture spokesman John Cobb claims.

The Nationals MP and former NSW farm boss says Agriculture Minister Tony Burke "hasn't stood up" for farmers against the anti-farmer water policies of Water Minister Penny Wong.

"I say to Tony Burke - when are you going to get involved in water?

Why have you been so deathly silent on the effect on agriculture?" he said in an interview with The Weekly Times.

Mr Cobb has also slammed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for "bullsh--ting people" that water and climate problems could be fixed by an emissions trading scheme.

"He's traded on ignorance and deliberately tried to frighten people by using CSIRO's worst-case scenarios," Mr Cobb said.

"And what we do in Australia will have no impact by itself, because we're only 1.3 per cent of global emissions.

"Why would you want to go it alone?"

Signalling an aggressive approach, Mr Cobb also slammed the Government for talking up the need for rural R&D in tackling climate change while at the same time closing CSIRO research facilities.

"The only real way for farmers to cope with ever-increasing input costs is to get better at what they do, and that depends on boosting, not cutting, our research efforts," he said.

On drought policy, Mr Cobb said, while he backed reform to put more emphasis on preparedness, immediate changes to Exceptional Circumstances to assist long-suffering farmers.

"The EC rules must be changed to recognise the need for extra support for people who've been in drought for years and are now out of resources," he said. "The previous government made changes to EC rules as circumstances changed, and this government should do the same."

Regarding longer term reform, Mr Cobb said he favoured tax deductions for preparedness activities rather than grants, as long as farmers had a proper drought management plan.

"I think if we re-visited tax deductions (which were used pre-1973) and gave less aid, everyone would be better off."

Mr Cobb also said loans should be considered.

"People don't apply for a loan if they don't need, because they have to repay it, it whereas everybody's keen on getting a grant. It also avoids the 'lines on the map' problem."

Agriculture Minister Tony Burke's office had not responded to Mr Cobb's claims at the time of going to press.