A former head of the NSW farming lobby's youth arm has warned the agriculture industry risks reputation damage akin to that suffered after the live cattle exports scandal if the state government proceeds with controversial new land clearing laws. 
Josh Gilbert, who quit as the chairman of NSW Young Farmers last month, says proposed laws which shift land clearing rules towards self regulation meant "Australian agricultural branding is at huge risk."
"Perceptions are reality and having farmers being able to self-assess whether it's good practice to knock down certain trees - even with clear industry guidelines - we know that those aren't always followed," he said.
"The live [cattle] export issue that we saw was one example. There were several isolated incidents that led to a huge overnight stoppage of one sector."
In 2011, a furore over footage of cattle cruelty saw the federal government suspend live exports to Indonesia.
"That had huge impacts not only for farming families but also the rural communities that they support," Mr Gilbert said. "I see similar instances occurring here."
The NSW government is planning to overhaul biodiversity and land clearing laws introduced by Labor which have been long opposed by farming groups and the National Party.
The issue was dramatically highlighted in 2014 after a NSW environment compliance officer, Glen Turner, was allegedly shot to death by Moree farmer Ian Turnbull, who has pleaded not guilty to murder.
In   December of that year an independent panel commissioned by the state government recommended repealing the Native Vegetation Act, Threatened Species Act and parts of the National Parks and Wildlife Act and introducing a new Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The government pledged to implement all 43 of the panel's recommendations.
But Mr Gilbert believes there has been a lack of consultation with indigenous and environmental groups in development of the new laws.
"We know that we do need fair and equitable policy but that's only going to happen when we sit down with indigenous and green groups and all other stakeholders to get fair outcomes," he said.
Environmental groups have warned the laws could see NSW follow in Queensland's footsteps where similar changes saw almost 300,000 hectares of bushland cleared in 2013-14.
They say this released the equivalent of 36 million tonnes of carbon pollution, more than 6 per cent of Australia's entire emissions that year.
A spokeswoman for primary industries minister Niall Blair said the reforms "are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modify and simplify an out-dated, punitive and ineffective set of biodiversity laws."
"Part of that process to deliver these reforms has been working with NSW Farmers every step of the way," she said.
"Once key stakeholders have finalised their initial responses and briefings - the draft bill will be released for wider consultation."