FORMER Victorian farm leader Simon Ramsay has set his sights on a political future in state parliament.

He is planning to put his hand up for a Liberal-held seat in the Western Region division of the Legislative Council due to become vacant later in the year because of a retirement.

Mr Ramsay told The Weekly Times he had decided not to seek Liberal pre-selection for the federal seat of Wannon being vacated by David Hawker.

He recently flirted with the idea after failing to win pre-selection for another federal seat - Corangamite - and falling short in his bid for a position on the National Farmers' Federation board.

"I'm going to concentrate my energies on a state upper house seat later this year," Mr Ramsay said.

"I'm more conversant with state politics, and the Western Region covers the area where I live."

In the meantime, Mr Ramsay will focus on his Colac-based export lamb processing business.