I wish the PM had told me earlier: Joyce

Barnaby Joyce wishes Tony Abbott had told him earlier he couldn't appear on the ABC's Q&A program.

When the prime minister gives you an instruction you need to obey him, the agriculture minister told the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday.

But "it would have been nice" to know about the directive a little bit sooner.

ABC managing director Mark Scott, in a tweet, said Mr Abbott's instruction was a "missed opportunity" for the minister to discuss the newly-released agriculture blueprint in front of the million people who watch the show.

Mr Joyce said it was unlikely there would have been a question about the white paper.