The Australia-first strategic cropping land legislation will ensure the state's most arable land isn't sacrificed to the land-hungry mining and gas industries.

The arid and inhospitable land of the North West will not be included in the protected zones.

AgForce chief executive officer Robert Walker welcomed the legislation but said it did not go far enough.

"The strategic cropping legislation will preserve only a small percentage of Queensland's best farm land where food crops are grown," he said.

"It won't protect land used to graze sheep and cattle which are also critical industries."

Mr Walker said all agriculture should be afforded protection from mining and gas industries.

"Coal mines might produce short-term income for Queensland but they also permanently damage our landscape for food production," he said.

"A mine might have a life of 30 or 40 years, scar the land and then it's gone, while farmers are producing food in perpetuity."

Queensland Natural Resources Minister Rachel Nolan said the bill was the key to ensuring balance between the competing mining and agricultural industries.

"This new legislation ensures the competing interests of mining, farming and other developments can be effectively and sustainably balanced," she said.

Under the proposed laws, development and mining activity on land determined to be "the state's best cropping land" by soil testing will be subject to certain conditions.

"That land is protected - either in the Protection Zone, where developments which permanently alienate land are prohibited or in the Management Zone, where development can only proceed under strict conditions," Ms Nolan said.

"The restrictions apply to open cut mining, coal seam gas, underground coal gasification, long-wall or underground mining, and urban and industrial development."

If passed, the legislation will come into effect early next year.