Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to double its funding of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust. 

The trust was established to encourage protection of natural and cultural features on private land, without selling or donating it. 

But its base government funding runs out in June and is warning it will have to scale back the new covenants it can support. 

Vice-president Colin Hurst says the $4.3 million in funding hasn't increased in 10 years, but demand for it has. 

He says it's increased from 4,000 to 5,200 covenants —around 28 percent— with no extra funding. 

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