Senator Milne today urged the Government to back a Senate inquiry into the issue, which has been proposed by the Greens.
She criticised Prime Minister John Howard for his scepticism about climate change.
"He talks as if he's concerned about climate change," she told reporters.
"When he talks about the drought and the mega-fires that we might get this summer, he denies any connection with climate change.
"It's very important that the Government support the Senate inquiry that the Greens have proposed to look into the impact of climate change on agriculture."
Senator Milne said Australia had a pastoral zone, a wheat-sheep zone and a coastal zone, all of which had shifted as a result of climate change.
"People living in rural Australia deserve the opportunity to see what the scientists have got to say about their long-term future and be given the opportunity for planned changes in agriculture or the opportunities to leave the land, whichever they choose," she said.
"But the Government's attitude and (Liberal) Senator (Bill) Heffernan's attitude of just saying we'll come up with a big idea of moving agriculture north is not going to help Australian farmers.
"It's about the equivalent of (billionaire businessman) Richard Pratt (who suggested) turning the rivers inland.
"We need a serious scientific assessment of how agricultural zones have shifted in Australia and what we can do to assist rural Australia."
