THE Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has said farming communities are being prevented from participating in the process for assessing the environmental risk of mining and energy projects leading to bad outcomes for food production.

VFF president, Emma Germano, said concerns raised by farmers impacted by the Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project near Swan Hill about public exposure of its Environmental Effects Statement (EES) occurring during the summer harvest exposed flaws in the system.