The Shadow Minister for Resources, Steve Whan, said the taskforce would address community concerns over the issue.

"Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner has ... refused to rule out allowing coal seam gas drilling and exploration on prime NSW farming land," Mr Whan said.

"Mr Stoner was ... given the opportunity to rule out allowing coal seam gas mining and exploration on NSW farming land but chose not to take it.

"Instead of taking this opportunity to rule out subjecting farming land to coal seam gas drilling, Andrew Stoner has confirmed it is on the table.

"If the O'Farrell Government had no plans to allow coal seam gas mining on prime farming land, why didn't the Deputy Premier just say so?

"Rural and regional communities have every right to be concerned about the Deputy Premier's comments today."

But the Minister for Resources, Chris Hartcher says the Coalition 'is taking proactive steps to regulate coal seam gas exploration and production to protect agricultural land and the environment'.

"The community have expressed a number of concerns over the handling of the issue under Labor and we've listened. Now we're acting by introducing tougher conditions on coal and coal seam gas mining," Mr Hartcher said.

"As already announced, all new coal and coal seam gas exploration and mining licence applications will be subject to new rules including a ban on the use of BTEX and an extended moratorium on the use of fraccing during coal seam gas drilling.

"We understand there needs to be a balance between agricultural land and mining and we're determined to get that balance right.

"That is why we will require all new applications for mining or petroleum projects which have the potential to affect agricultural resources or industries to submit an Agriculture Impact Statement.

"It's also why we are identifying strategic agricultural lands and through the Strategic Regional Land Use policy process, ensuring that provisions are included to maintain the significant value of these lands."