The Irish Farmers' Association is expected to decide on rejoining the national partnership talks when its national executive meets later today in Dublin.
The organisation had suspended its involvement in the talks for more than two months over the Government's handling of the EU nitrates directive plan for Ireland.
This plan will limit the amount of fertiliser farmers will be allowed to use and the times they can use it on farms to protect water quality. Because the IFA, Macra na Feirme and the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (Icos) believed the levels set were too restrictive and not scientifically based, they pulled out of the partnership talks.
However, over the past month the Icos and Macra na Feirme decided to rejoin the talks but the IFA continued to take an uncompromising stance. But following meetings last week between the IFA and Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan, some of the difficulties appear to have eased.
Following these meetings, the IFA president Pádraig Walshe said the latest nitrates proposals were a significant improvement on earlier legislation though they would still impose a huge cost burden on farmers.
He welcome a five-year lead-in time provided for the intensive pig and poultry sectors.