The national protest by farmers culminates today with 300 tractors gathering in the centre of Dublin with little prospect of a breakthrough in the dispute.
The Irish Farmers' Association for the first time in its protest spelled out "10 key measures to resolve the farm income dispute".
But the Government called on the farmers to try to resolve their grievances through the social partnership process, while promising every effort to minimise disruption to Dublin commuters today.
In a statement it adopted a conciliatory tone, saying its approach to farming "has always been founded on the unique importance of the sector in terms of sustaining rural Ireland and as our major natural resource-based industry".
Speaking last night at Goff's in Co Kildare, where the main convoy was parked, the IFA president,Mr John Dillon, said farmers had shown their anger and frustration in a measured and disciplined way. He warned the Government, however, that farmer patience was "at breaking point".
The farmers believe the Government will be forced to apply the same kind of political logic which allowed it leave aside money for benchmarking to the agriculture sector.
But in an article in today's Irish Times the Minister for Agriculture,Mr Walsh, says farm organisations should be concentrating on preparing changes within the industry. While he acknowledges that 2002 was a difficult year for farmers, he says they have benefited from social partnership, and there is no reason why it should not be the way of doing business in the future.