Tourism creates most of the headlines in the Ruapehu District but farming remains "a bedrock" of the economy, mayor Don Cameron says.
He and his council's chief executive Clive Manley and economic development manager Warren Furner met farming representatives recently.
They were Ruapehu Federated Farmers meat and fibre chairman Nick Street, Taumarunui sustainable land management group facilitator Dick Lancaster and farm consultant Geoff Burton.
The six discussed priorities, a statement from the council said, and they intend to meet every six months.
One subject for discussion was the Government's one billion trees initiative. Burton said selective tree planting on unproductive land was a good idea, but that large-scale forestry could be detrimental to farming and to small communities.