As the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) continued its beef protest at Kepak meat plants last night, the Irish Meat Association (IMA)accused it of being "irresponsible and misguided".
The IMA, which represents Irish meat plants, said the farmers' action, which has seen one-day closures of other plants, was seriously damaging the sector at all levels.
"It is time for farmers to reflect on the implications and possible outcomes of the IFA's action and to ask how the IFA will be held to account for the consequences of its current behaviour," its open letter to farmers concluded.
Accusing it of engaging in a "sustained misinformation campaign", the IMA said the farm organisation had misled farmers about the Russian market. The removal of the ban by Russia on taking beef from six Irish counties did not mean it will buy more beef, nor would it pay more for beef.
The IMA said farmers had also been misled about the Egyptian market. No production for that market can take place before Egyptian veterinary delegations arrive to agree technical specifications.
Farmers were also being misled about the EU beef markets, which were being renationalised. It said Bord Bia had estimated that beef exports to Continental Europe this year would be 50,000 tonnes down on 1999 sales.
It accused the IFA of misleading farmers on UK cattle prices by not telling them about the prices for poorer-quality animals and different carcass trims and that the bulk of Irish beef going into Britain was into the lower-priced manufacturing sector.
It said Teagasc had confirmed that all premium payments go directly to farmers. IFA allegations that factories were profiteering were "patently untrue and totally irresponsible".
"The IFA action represents a serious threat to the viability of the Irish beef industry and to the livelihoods of farmers. Co-operation rather than conflict should guide the way forward," it said.
IFA protests outside the Kepak plants are set to continue until tomorrow afternoon. The AIBP and Dawn plants are not being targeted this weekend.