They fronted up to Premier Anna Bligh when Community Cabinet descended on Highfields, just north of Toowoomba, determined to keep the issue in the public arena.

Both FutureFood Qld and the Friends of Felton organisation were want to protect iconic farmland from what they see as inappropriate mining development.

"Anna Bligh came and addressed us as a group and told us we needed to get the balance right and she understood the issue and we were somewhat comforted by her words," FutureFood Qld spokesman Jeff Bidstrup said.

"At the meeting she said 'we have 300 years of coal supply in Queensland and there was a need to address the balance between mining and farming'."

After speaking with Bligh Government Ministers, FutureFood Queensland says it came away with the impression the State Government is "seriously considering how to implement a plan", one which will satisfy both the mining and agriculture stakeholders.

"Now, whether it eventuates in a form that is suitable to us remains to be seen," Mr Bidstrup said.

"We need to maintain the pressure or the issue will go off the radar.

"If any of us (farm lobby groups) drop the ball, I'm sure they (State Government), will very happily also drop the ball."

FutureFood Queensland believes there is a "golden opportunity" to create a world-class model of how mining and agriculture can co-exist.

If it doesn't, then the issue of whether Queensland either produces coal or food will continue to haunt successive governments.

Friends of Felton spokesman Rob McCreath said he was assured by the Premier that her Government was determined to "get the balance right" between mining and farming.

"That is exactly our point - at present there is no balance whatsoever," he said.

As well, Mr McCreath said he also asked the Premier whether she really believed that cropping and vegetable growing in the Felton district could co-exist with a huge open-cut coal mine, a petrochemical plant, and a power station.

He says he also asked Ms Bligh if she "would eat a lettuce covered in coal dust", noting the Premier "then rushed off" to meet a group of netball players.