Cropping, forestry, dairy, viticulture and horticulture industries are working with the National Landcare project to identify conditions that affect production, such as the length of heatwaves, low temperatures, rainfall and dry periods.

Indi MP Helen Haines launched the project in Myrtleford on Wednesday and said obtaining this local data was both something practical farmers could use and important to the political battle.

"Australia has struggled to develop a coherent response to climate change, in part because we've spoken too much in terms of science and not enough in terms of people," she said.

"If we can talk to farming communities about farming - about frost days and dry days, warm winters and late springs - we can start to connect with where people are, and bring them into a conversation we need to have.

"That's what I think is most exciting about this tool, that it gives us the science we need for policy and business to make informed decisions, and it gives us the local stories we need to create change."

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The project involves Wodonga, Indigo, Wangaratta, Alpine and Towong councils as well as groups such as the North East Catchment Management Authority.

Dr Haines said the data was needed to better to understand what changes to expect and what can be done in areas such as the chesnut industry.

Bright produces 75 per cent of Australia's chestnuts, but drier conditions might lower the risk of nut rot and also increase the risk of bushfires in the region.

The MP also used her speech to call on the federal government to implement a national climate change strategy, saying the opportunity is "slipping through our fingers".

"I believe that one of the reasons the people of Indi elected me as their representative, is because people understand the scale of the challenge and the opportunity before us and because there is a yearning in our regional community, for a stronger response," Dr Haines said.

"By failing to plan for the changes that are already happening, our political system is letting down our farmers and threatening our future."