"This is on top of money already spent and I want to see this money spent on improving our environment."
Clint Worthington, president of Tararua Federated Farmers, said it's a trying time for farmers.
"A tiny minority is dictating to the majority.
"The majority of people are happy with what farmers are achieving. We are all making improvements and I've never heard of one farmer who wants to pollute."
Federated Farmers are filing a '274', which allows them to be party to the court +proceedings as Mr Worthington said they need to look after farmer's interests.
"We also know some farmers have talked to their own legal advisers."
Mr Worthington said he's disappointed, sad and angry about the court proceedings.
"These people (EDS and Fish & Game) have nothing better to do. Along with Fish & Game, Federated Farmers are stakeholders in the Manawatu River Accord and I've stood up and said how proud I am to work with everyone collaboratively and then for Wellington Fish& Game to go and file court action against Horizons, which is our farmers . . ."
And while Tararua mayoral candidate Allan Benbow believes there's a clear link to suggest Horizons Regional Council candidate Andrew Day is an interested party in the Environment Court challenge, Mr Day said he didn't have an "inkling" he would be linked with the court action.
"The timing isn't what I'd want in the middle of election campaign," he said. "I wasn't aware they (Fish & Game and EDS) were going to use my information like that.
"I've been served with papers, along with others, including dairy farmers, but I do believe this is absolutely a valid challenge and I support it."
Mr Day, who along with Dannevirke's Lorraine Stephenson, is challenging Tararua's current Horizons councillor John Barrow for the one seat, said he has a lot of sympathy for dairy farmers.
"Most just want to know what's expected of them and get on and do it."
Wellington Fish & Game and EDS initiated their legal action against Horizons over its alleged failure to correctly implement the One Plan.
The two groups have sought a declaration under section 310 of the Resource Management Act on the alleged failure by Horizons to correctly apply the tests for nitrogen leaching within the One Plan when resource consents are applied for to discharge nitrogen.
In a statement Wellington Fish& Game and EDS said they've tried to engage with Horizons for more than a year over implementation of the Plan.
"Going to court in this instance is more in sorrow than anger and is an attempt to ensure Horizons implement the One Plan as the Environment court originally intended," they said.