The Irish Farmers' Association has described the new agri-environmental option scheme as 'unworkable'.
The scheme is being introduced as a replacement for 10,000 farmers who will be finishing their contracts with the old Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) this year.
Farmers are hoping to secure payments averaging €5,000. However, IFA President John Bryan said the scheme will not deliver the €50m promised by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan in the last budget.
He said Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith and rural politicians must now address the very serious shortcomings identified in the proposed scheme.
The IFA is organising a series of meetings this week to highlight their concerns - the first meetings will be held in Westport and Donegal tonight.
The IFA's Rural Development Chairman said that a number of practical changes must be made to the proposed scheme so that it can become workable for the majority of farmers.
