The paper attempts to evaluate awareness of Polish farmers the responsibility for the negative consequences that can cause agricultural production and the ability to counteract this effect. The aim of the study was also the assessment of knowledge of the principles of farming in line with sustainable development. The article presents the opinion of farmers on the responsibility for the consequences of negative externalities in agriculture. It was found that farmers know the rules of the Common Good Agricultural Practice and cross compliance. It can be concluded that farmers are afraid of responsibility for the negative environmental effects.