The Irish Farmers Association has denied it snubbed the Taoiseach by failing to turn up at a meeting in Cork airport where farming and agri-business representatives were to have presented a unified call for a Yes vote on Nice.
It said yesterday's gathering in Cork was to have been a photocall, but it also said it had written to Mr Ahern to say it was going to run its own campaign for a Yes vote independent from the Government.
An IFA spokesman said this was being done in light of the unsatisfactory meeting on sheep identification it had with the Department of Agriculture on Wednesday.
While Government sources conceded it had been embarrassing that the main farming organisation had not been there, a Department spokesman said the IFA had sought a meeting with the Taoiseach which was to have taken place yesterday.
Mr Ahern issued a statement welcoming the united support of the farm organisations and the agri-industry in securing a Yes vote. Mr Pat O'Rourke, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association president, welcomed his recognition of the serious farm income situation.