Farm murders and attacks have increased since last year and are at unacceptable levels, farmer union TAU SA said on Tuesday.

"The situation is even worse than last year. According to TAU SA's statistics, 42 people were murdered on farms since January this year," deputy president Henry Geldenhuys said.

"Although this is the same figure as in 2014, the attacks on farms increased from 142 in the same period last year to 158 so far this year."

He said there were cases reported where people were tortured during the attacks.

Geldenhuys said farmers have had to increase their security measures and government was silent on the matter.

The priorities of government were wrong, the union said.

"We are concerned about the fact that the country's president is abroad raising his voice on the Israel-Palestinian issue, while he keeps silent on the ongoing insecurity in his own country, and in particular on the farms, where the country's food is produced," said Geldenhuys.

"Government's priorities are clearly wrong by trying to get international acknowledgement while the people in his own country are neglected."