States should pay farmers' rates: minister

Federal agriculture Minister David Littleproud has urged state and territory governments to pay council rates for drought-affected farmers and small businesses.

Mr Littleproud has written to premiers and chief ministers asking them to give rate relief to producers and businesses struggling with the crippling drought.

"This would provide immediate, practical relief to communities hurting from drought," the minister said on Thursday

"Rates are often a huge expense for farmers, and with no income coming in, paying them can be very hard."

Mr Littleproud also wants farmers paying rent on their land to state and territory governments to have the payments waived.