IF farmers are wondering what the new look Senate will mean for them, they should just take a look at politics in NSW and the behind-closed-doors relationship between Labor and the Greens for a taste of what might be in store Federally.
This week new and returned members of the Senate took their places in the Upper House, but there's been a changing of the guard and the game plan for the next Senate term is vastly different.
For the past three years, the Coalition indulged in the privilege of holding the balance of power in the Senate, and Labor and the minor parties, despite their efforts, often had little impact in stopping legislation or proposing amendments. At the end of the day it simply came down to numbers.
And that's what it comes down to again, but this time, Labor is clambering for them, and needs the support of all seven minor party Senators – five Greens, Independent Nick Xenophon and Steve Fielding from Family First, or if one of them fails to lend a hand, they'd even be looking for a Coalition Senator to cross the floor.
What's of concern though, if the NSW example is anything to go by, is that last year's election was actually pretty close if you look at the primary vote, and it's only thanks in a large way to The Greens that Labor got over the line in many seats because it offered up its preferences to the Kevin '07 team.
This has been the scenario for years during the Carr and Iemma reign, and in return The Greens have had an immense behind the scenes impact on the way the jobs get done in NSW. They wanted payback, and it's expected so too will Bob Brown's Greens.
Remember how many National Parks were declared by Bob Carr in the 10 years he was in power?
During his time as NSW Premier Bob Carr declared 350 new national parks in NSW, locking up millions of acres of native forest on top of the severe native vegetation reforms which banned land clearing in NSW soon after he took the top job.
These measures helped lock-in The Greens preference deal year after year, stitching up the votes of thousands of inner-city green supporters for the Labor posse.
Bob Brown and The Greens have already had a crack at suggesting the compulsory acquisition of water to save the Lower Lakes, and would no doubt be supportive of suggestions the Government put its hand in its pocket and buy prime farm land with big irrigation licences to return the water to the environment.
I'm sure I remember a phrase "food shortage" being bandied around a bit this year, but that issue hasn't really cropped up in this recent debate.
Another announcement today will no doubt win favour with the Greens, with Environment Minister Peter Garrett suggesting the Murray River from Wentworth be listed on a national register as a threatened species. Goodbye farming, goodbye communities if that one gets the tick.
But the reality is if Kevin Rudd wants to get jobs done, he's going to have to listen to what the Greens want from time to time, and propose things that will get their favour without too much of a stoush or forcing Labor to publicly water down its policy.
It's going to be interesting times in the Senate for the bush, but are the preference deals between the Greens and Labor the writing on the wall for what's in store?
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