Federated Farmers say a deal with police could help prevent crime in rural communities.
Of particular concern is a rise in cannabis cultivation, stock rustling and vehicle and equipment theft.
Farmers President Bruce Wills says despite the high price of meat there is never an excuse for rustling.
“To help yourself to other people’s produce is nothing but straight out and out theft, taking the livelihood away from farming families,” he says.
Police and Federated Farmers want all those in rural areas to keep a watch out for suspicious behaviour.
Farmers are also applauding the appointment of David Carter as Minister for Primary Industries and say they have got what they have been asking for.
Mr Carter was Agriculture and Forestry Minister in the previous cabinet and now he is heading a new "super ministry" which wraps in fisheries, aquaculture and biosecurity as well.
Mr Wills says the organisation lobbied for Mr Carter to have overall responsibility for primary industries.
"It's significant that the word `for' is in his title," Mr Wills says.
"It defines him as an active partner, one that will help us build capacity and capability right across our world-beating agricultural system."
Mr Wills says primary industries account for more than half of New Zealand's foreign exchange earnings and more than 70 percent of merchandise exports.
"In terms of these earnings, the primary industries are three times larger than tourism," he says.
3 News and RadioLive