Ag bosses told of land clearing reforms at last minute

Land clearing has long been identified as a major threat to nature and biodiversity. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Agriculture officials heard about the federal government's crackdown on land clearing at the eleventh hour, as the laws were fast-tracked to stop farmers felling trees in a "panic".

Nature law reforms were passed on the last parliamentary sitting day of the year on Friday, after the government struck a deal with the Greens.