GPA chairman Andrew Weidemann, of Rupanyup, said a review with powers to compel evidence would deliver valuable data to support the development of the grains industry for the future.

"There are a number of issues that have evolved since the deregulation of the industry - in particular around transformation and information in the industries," he said.

"What we're seeing, unfortunately, is companies going broke - I think they've lost nearly $100 million in Victoria in the last four years.

"We believe greater transparency around information on the supply chain would help alleviate that, because at the moment companies don't know what stocks are available, and that's leading to companies taking positions that put more pressure on their businesses."

Mr Weidemann said GPA also wanted to see the Grains Research and Development Corporation transformed into an industry-owned corporation.

"At the moment it's a statutory organisation under the auspices of the federal government, and can't do research in its own right," he said.

"By contrast, Meat and Livestock Australia, which is industry-owned, does have that ability. We think rather than outsourcing a lot of that work, GRDC could manage that because it comes at a greater cost for the industry."

The organisation also wants to see stronger laws around protection and ownership of data that companies, such as John Deere, gather on farms and a levy on all incoming containers to pay for broader-based biosecurity funding.

Grain Growers Limited chairman Brett Hosking, of Quambatook, said transport and telecommunications remained high on members' wishlists.

"We've surveyed our 17,000 member across Australia, and interesting enough those issues are the same nationwide," he said.

"We do see larger trucks and machines coming onto farms, so one thing we're advocating for is streamlining red tape with a Class-One ag notice that applies all across Australia.

"For instance, If I'm travelling from South Australia to Horsham with my contract harvester, just to know the rules are exactly the same in terms of dimensions and load size when I cross the border will make a huge difference in terms of cost to growers.

"A lot of growers' efficiencies are being gained through the use of technology, and you need some sort of point of connection with the rest of the world to work.

"At this stage, there are still glaring holes with mobile and NBN. I might be standing right next to a tower, but if that tower belongs to a different provider to what my mobile phone uses, then it's effectively useless to me."

Mr Hosking said another challenge for growers related to the changing, unpredictable climate.

"We're looking for incentives to get a multi-peril crop insurance program in Australia, as we see in other countries, so growers can take risks and just know their bottom line is covered," he said.

"To be a productive, cutting-edge farmer requires a certain confidence in the seasons to be able to make aggressive choices. A changing climate works against that, because the season could turn sour on you."

Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke was concerned about "scare-mongering" surrounding death taxes.

Last week, material shared on social media suggested Labor had plans to introduce a 40 per cent inheritance tax - a claim which the Opposition has flatly denied.

Mr Jochinke said it was important for farmers that such taxes were never imposed.

"The majority of farmers' assets are in land, so we are keeping a stern eye on any proposed changes to transferring of assets after death," he said.

"We do a lot of succession planning to move land from one generation to the next and can do it by gifting at the moment, so any duty on land transfer would be a huge cost."

The 2019 federal election is on Saturday, May 18.