Wanganui Federated Farmers wants a fairer spread of the rates take being considered by the Wanganui District Council.
In a submission to the council's 10-Year Plan, the branch said farmers were facing a possible 10 per cent rates hike but the 10-year plan did not show where this rates rise was coming from.
Tim Matthews, branch vice-president, said a 1 per cent increase in farmer income was more important to the Wanganui district than a 10 per cent increase in tourism or business.
Yet he said while farms were valuable assets, that was not always matched by the income they created.
"Until this year council adopted a differential rating system but that's changed and again there's no explanation given in the 10-Year Plan why this has occurred."