NFF president David Crombie is pleased the so-called green paper has not moved to impose "an arbitrary date for covering agriculture".

"[It] instead identified a target date of 2015 – pending the need to first overcome practical impediments of measuring, monitoring and verification of carbon emissions – with a decision on inclusion or exclusion to be considered in 2013," Mr Crombie said.

"That analysis is consistent with both Professor Ross Garnaut's and the Productivity Commission's findings.

"Importantly, the Government has recognised and emphasised the essential need to work in close consultation with agriculture to overcome these problems and in developing appropriate responses."

Mr Crombie said the green paper's intent takes account of three key issues for farmers:

* the impracticalities of measuring, monitoring and verifying agricultural emissions;

* the need to fully grasp agriculture's life cycle to account for carbon stored in soil, crops and pastures; and

* the need to challenge the international Kyoto rules to reflect Australia's particular circumstances.

"Today, with the Government making its intent known, we can now work on the detail," Mr Crombie said.

The NFF's Climate Change Taskforce is meeting in Canberra today to go through the green paper and prepare a comprehensive response in due course.