Elderly NSW farmer denies murder: court

A northern NSW farmer accused of "executing" an environment officer after an ongoing dispute about land clearing has formally declared his innocence.

Ian Robert Turnbull, 80, appeared via audio-visual link in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, wearing prison greens and spectacles.

He appeared to squint as Justice Peter Johnson arraigned him on a single charge of murder, over the shooting death of 51-year-old Glen Turner, before replying: "Not guilty, your honour."

The crown alleges Turnbull had been locked in an ongoing dispute with the environment office over clearing of vegetation on properties in the Croppa Creek area.

When acting Justice Anthony Blackmore refused Turnbull bail last year, he said the crown had alleged the farmer "deliberately executed an unarmed environment officer by shooting him in the back".

The court heard on Friday that a number of witnesses in the case live in and around Moree and the Dubbo area, and that there is a dispute as to where the trial will take place.

That question will be considered at a hearing later this month.

Turnbull's two-week trial is expected to take place in April.