Joyce slams green groups over dams

Barnaby Joyce has taken a swing at green groups he says are standing in the way of building new dams that could reduce the impact of droughts.

Appearing on the TODAY Show in his electorate near Tamworth as, ironically, rain fell, Mr Joyce slammed those who oppose water projects.

"If we don't actually get the major dams in place, we're going to run out of water," the former deputy prime minister said.

"Every time we try to get some serious infrastructure in place, that can deal with issues such as this, some group tells us there's a frog in the way, or there's a moss in the way, or there's, I don't know, a bloody quoll."

Mr Joyce said while nobody can stop droughts, it is possible to future proof against them and reduce the affects.

"Get your water infrastructure in place, make sure your grass covers are appropriate, don't flog your place completely out," he said.

"When things are good, make sure you put some money in the bank, farm management deposits."

But most of all, governments must be able to build dams, he said.