CSG not a focus for farmers in NSW

Coal seam gas and mining were not the biggest issues for regional voters in NSW, a lobby says.

Coal seam gas and mining were not the biggest issues for rural and regional voters in the NSW election despite their high profile, the state's key farming lobby group says.

NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson says while attention has been focused on the Greens being on track to claim the far north coast seats of Ballina and Lismore from the Nationals, coal mining and CSG were not key factors in rural electorates elsewhere in the state.

"Coal mining and CSG were identified as big issues going into this election and two seats to the Greens would indicate that they are big issues," Ms Simson told AAP.

"However, what is also indicated is there are a number of big issues in NSW in agriculture."

The sprawling seat of Barwon, where CSG activity around Narrabri is a hot-button issue, was retained by the Nationals' Kevin Humphries, albeit with a reduced margin.

In Tamworth, where Chinese mining giant Shenhua's Watermark coal mine proposal has angered farmers, Nationals MP Kevin Anderson held his seat with an increased vote.

NSW Nationals spokesman Julian Luke said the mine was not a key issue.

"In terms of the impact of Shenhua and CSG I don't think it was one of the main issues in the electorate," he said.

The federal government brought progress on the mine to a temporary halt before the election after it declared it would be assessed under federal water resource impact laws.

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CSG not a focus for farmers in NSW