National Farmers Union president Tom Buis said leaders need to come together to govern and meet the many challenges that we are facing.

He cited a speech Obama made last month in which he said America's farmers were its future as an example that the new President-elect does want to work with rural America and address these issues.

"They are going to have to hit the ground running on the economy, and certainly on some other issues," Mr Buis said.

"Primarily the implementation of the Farm Bill as well as what to do about the commodity futures markets regulation and the lack thereof; putting transparency back into those marketplaces as well as renewable energy.

"I think the President-elect has made it real clear that they are not going to backslide."

Mr Buis said the time was right to call a national agricultural summit.

Recalling a similar event in the late 1990s that created a national conversation for production agriculture, Buis said he planned to seek support for another such event in the prelude to the Obama Administration.

Mr Buis, an Obama supporter who has been mentioned as a possible choice for Agriculture Secretary, said he was not seeking the post, but if asked by the President would be open to considering it.

American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman said the Farm Bureau's issues included the economy, energy, immigration, trade, implementation of the farm bill and many others.

"We know there are many points of views on these issues, but we also know that our elected leaders have one thing in common: each person elected to office ran for office to improve this country," Mr Stallman said.

"We look forward to working with the new administration and Congress to create those opportunities that will improve agriculture and rural America."