The draft budget proposed a 10.65 per cent increase in general rates for farms due to the 27.42 per cent value increase.

Farmer and protester Neville McIntyre said farmers couldn't keep on paying so much in rates.

"It's not fair. The total value of residential is three times the amount of ours, and we're paying this exorbitant amount of rate increase when they're not," he said.

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"We're hoping council will realise farmers can't keep paying this and reduce the differential down further. It's too topsy turvy at the moment."

Tom Blair was a long time Kalkee farmer for 60 years.

"The neighbouring councils have a lot better system," he said.

"They give the farmers a fair go but Horsham council have been bleeding the farmer for many years."

Mr Blair said though the rains are good for crops, it's wrecking the gravel roads critical to farmers.

"We're paying big rates and our roads are going to rack and ruin."

Victorian Farmers Federation Wimmera branch president Graeme Maher said the rating system for farmers needs to be changed as a whole.

"The system is based on land value, the land value has increased dramatically of late," he said.

"This is in no correlation with the amount of money farmers make."

Mr Maher said this is where the problem lies.

"The system is flawed," he said.

Mr Maher said the VFF's concern is that an increase will continue yearly, putting more and more strain on farmers. He said farmers have come out of some of the worst years.

"We've happened to have four good years since," he said.

The VFF submitted a letter during the draft budget public response period.

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It stated the VFF is concerned that the agricultural sector cannot be expected to shoulder an even more significant rating burden as farmers work to help rebuild the local economy in the wake of COVID-19.

"Farmers in the Wimmera are facing many of the same challenges that all ratepayers in the community are facing in light of the pandemic," it read.

"Councils proposed a 10.35 per cent average farm rate increase represents a significant rates shock for the local agricultural community. They will hurt business growth and productivity, which are ultimately needed to help create local jobs and to help protect farm businesses into the future. It also reverses the council's efforts to lower the rating burden on agriculture over the past decade.

"The VFF is committed to ensuring a fairer and more equitable rating strategy for all rural and regional ratepayers. We look forward to discussing the council's rating plans in the future."

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