ABC cuts could deepen city-country divide

Cutbacks at the ABC will harm coverage of critical agriculture issues in rural Queensland, the state's peak farming body says.

The national broadcaster's regional news, current affairs and sports coverage will be slashed and more than 400 jobs lost as a result of $254 million in budget cuts.

The changes will also see state-based 7.30 Report programs cut and Radio National's Bush Telegraph show dropped.

It would place in jeopardy the ability for rural issues to be heard by metropolitan audiences, AgForce's incoming general president Grant Maudsley said.

"Bush Telegraph was a program that delved into rural and regional issues and delivered in depth discussion to a broad cross section of listeners who would otherwise not hear a great deal about agriculture and rural communities," Mr Maudsley said in a statement.

"The devil will still be in the detail, but at this time we are unsure of how other ABC cuts will impact country Queensland and believe we have not been presented with satisfactory alternatives."

Mr Maudsley was also sceptical about a proposed greater emphasis on digital content, saying many rural and regional Queenslanders do not have access to adequate internet coverage.