Federated Farmers says politicians need to recognise the role that the primary sector can play in lifting New Zealand's economic performance.
It says agriculture has out-performed other industries for 25 of the last 27 years.
The federation launched its policy manifesto, which is designed to inform the next government of the organisation's policy position on about 30 topics, in Wellington on Tuesday 4 November.
They include water, education, climate change, animal welfare, economics, genetic modification and telecommunications.
Federation president Don Nicolson says the decisions made on these issues could decide whether the recession descends into a depression.
He says the key priorities are: ensuring the next government controls its expenditure; making sure water storage is on the list of infrastructure projects; and getting farm animals exempted from the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Federated Farmers maintains some of the environmental protective measures are unaffordable for its members. Under the scheme, the sector will have to start paying for greenhouse gas emissions from 2013.
Mr Nicolson says it is timely to remind politicians and the general public about the challenges that face the rural community in the lead-up to the election.
He says it is only in the past week that voters have started to hear about agriculture and its importance to the economy.
The recognition the federation said Progressive leader and Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton had given rural New Zealand was acknowledged at the launch.
The organisation says its members are watching the parties carefully and will throw their support behind policies that benefit future generations.
