The process to re-elect Mr Tom Parlon as president of the Irish Farmers' Association will begin on Monday night, when the 29 county executives of the organisation meet to nominate for the position.
It is thought highly unlikely that anyone in the organisation will oppose Mr Parlon, who resigned from the top post during the 14-day blockade of beef factories.
Mr Parlon, who had led the IFA for two years, resigned to prevent its destruction: the IFA had clocked up fines of £500,000 for disobeying an order of the High Court to stop picketing.
The organisation would have faced fines of £500,000 per day if it had persisted in disregarding the order made by Mr Justice O'Donovan.
Mr Parlon, who said he was resigning because the organisation had agreed to obey the court, took no further part in picketing or blockading the 40 meat plants.
However, he was invited in a private capacity to continue peace talks arranged by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh. Mr Parlon went on to join in local negotiations with meat plants to bring an end to the dispute. He achieved the farmers' objective of a base price of 90p per pound for O-grade cattle.
The nominations for president, deputy president and four vice-presidents will be sent forward to the annual general meeting of the IFA, which will be held in Dublin on February 8th in the City West Hotel.
There is unlikely to be a challenge either to Mr John Dillon, who also resigned and is seeking re-election to the post of deputy president. This is despite friction between him and the IFA hierarchy.
Supporters of Mr Dillon, a Limerick-based dairy farmer known for his militancy, have been claiming that it was pressure applied by him and his supporters which forced the confrontation with the meat factories.
Yesterday, the meat plants were paying farmers the agreed rates and more for their cattle as the production lines returned to normal. Sales at cattle marts have been very busy.
Later today, Mr Walsh will travel to Italy with a team from An Bord Bia to attempt to minimise damage caused to Irish beef exports there by the dispute.