Landcare NSW chair Robert Dulhunty, said “There is no doubt, when you look at what's on public record, that there would not be any cuts to the Landcare budget or the National Landcare Program."

The funding grants had been allocated for future grass-roots projects.

Mr Dulhunty explained Landcare supports farming businesses' with the aim of improving agricultural productivity through sustainable land management.

"Landcare is extremely important to farmers," Mr Dulhunty said.

"Natural resource management is core to their business."

"Agricultural production is not separate from the natural resource base, it relies on it. So without a healthy natural resource base, agriculture production suffers," Mr Dulhunty said.

Federal Member for Calare, John Cobb said every attempt was made not to hit front-line services, but under the current financial circumstances cuts had to be made in order to save money.

Mr Cobb said he values the work of Landcare, including the work they do in helping farmers with their business skills.

“Prior to this disastrous financial situation the government has inherited, I had envisaged that Landcare could be more comfortable in its position as the pre-eminent natural resource management organisation, and not have to fight with other organisations for funding to do things they do so well including helping farmers with their business skills,” Mr Cobb said.

“I hope Landcare can still do this and do it in the future, because I do value the significant contribution it makes and I will do all I can to help it in that guise.”

While $483.8 million has been cut, $525 million has been allocated to the Green Army over five years supporting 250 projects in 2014-15, 500 projects in 2015-16 and 750 projects in 2016-17.

Landcare will merge with Caring for our Country, to create a single National Landcare Program, and over the next four years, the government will invest $1 billion through the new program.

The government said they will save $483.8 million but there is still much uncertainty surrounding the new National Landcare Program as consultations on its design and delivery are still being undertaken.

"I'm quite upset about it," Mr Dulhunty said.

"We lost 30 per cent of our budget, which is quite a big amount."

Macquarie 2100 (M2100), executive officer, John Ryan, said the cuts to Landcare were unwarranted.

"For a federal coalition which has preached a 'direct action' mantra for so many years, it makes no sense that its first act would be to slash funding the major organisation co-ordinating on-ground landscape and farming activities," Mr Ryan said.

Each year in Australia thousands of people volunteer with Landcare but the loss of $483.8 million in funding grants for future grass-roots projects could see the decline of knowledge and experience, paid employees with Landcare are unclear if the funding cuts will affect their jobs.

"I've already heard of people who have been given notice and others who are so concerned they're applying for jobs elsewhere," Mr Ryan said.

"For an organisation that is already bring run on a shoestring budget, its been very demoralising to staff."

Mr Dulhunty said the consequences of funding and leveraged co-investment being withdrawn from regional and rural Australia will impact on the stimulus to rural communities and the growth of rural communities, which will eventually lead into the job market.

"Indirectly the impact will be enormous.”

“I'm quite surprised when you consider the amount of stimulus that's now being pulled out of the bush that none of our political representatives in Canberra have stood up and come out against the cuts to Landcare," Mr Dulhunty said.