Anthony Chisholm the frontrunner to replace retiring Labor senator Joe Ludwig

Senator Joe Ludwig will retire in 2017.

Former Queensland Labor state secretary Anthony Chisholm is poised to replace Joe Ludwig in the Senate after the former cabinet minister announced he intends to retire from politics at the next election.

Senator Ludwig, the son of prominent union leader Bill Ludwig, will step down after 17 years in Parliament when his Senate term expires in 2017, citing the need for renewal within the party's federal parliamentary ranks.

"It wasn't his finest hour as agriculture minister, it started badly, faded away a little in the middle and the less said about the end the better

He said foreshadowing his retirement plans would leave the party with "ample time" to hold a full preselection ballot and hoped it would lead to greater branch involvement.

Senator Ludwig said in a statement that he leaves "with no regrets" and included "tackling the challenge of a long-term future for Australian farming, fisheries and forestry" among his achievements as agriculture minister between 2010 and mid-2013.

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He also served as human services minister and special minister for state.

His statement did not mention one of his biggest policy decisions: shuttingdown the live cattle trade to Indonesiain 2011after animal abuse was exposed in Indonesian abattoirs.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said that decision would be Senator Ludwig's sole policy legacy.

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Anthony Chisholm the frontrunner to replace retiring Labor senator Joe Ludwig