Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has been confronted by angry beef farmers at the National Ploughing Championships.
Mr Coveney urged them not to pull out of the Quality Assurance Scheme for beef producers, saying it would jeopardise the international prices.
He also said a Europe-wide approach is the best way for beef farmers to get a better deal from supermarkets.
Beef farmers have seen incomes affected since last October, which provoked major protests all over the country.
Today was the second day of the championships at Ratheniska near Stradbally, Co Laois.
Around 82,000 people turned out yesterday, the biggest opening day attendance in the event's history.
Mr Coveney said it would be a big mistake for farmers to heed the advice of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association and pull out of the Quality Assurance Scheme.
He said he understands the frustration of farmers but said Ireland has worked really hard to become a recognised producer of premium beef, which is sold for a higher price internationally, and that this would be jeopardised.
He also said he agrees with the Fianna Fáil suggestion that a European approach is required to rebalance the relationship between farmers and retailers in terms of the price margin that each gets.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin criticised Mr Coveney's handling of the beef crisis.
He said the minister is not doing enough in many different areas and farmers are continuing to suffer.
The ICSA has said that a beef regulator is urgently needed, saying that anger among beef farmers is palpable at the championships.
It said it experienced a "phenomenal response" to its campaign threatening a withdraw from the Quality Assurance Scheme.
"Since our stand opened on Tuesday morning, there has been a constant stream of farmers coming in to sign up," ICSA President Patrick Kent said.
Mr Kent said: "ICSA believes it is not too late to pull back from this campaign if there are meaningful negotiations with meat factories which address the issues which we have outlined."
However, he warned, "farmers cannot continue to lose money on beef, nor will they accept a Quality Assurance Scheme which is being manipulated to drive down price".
Today also saw welly-throwing competitions, pole climbing, fashion shows, celebrity cooking, sports stars, music stars and a national brown bread-baking competition and, of course, the continuation of the ploughing competition itself.
More than 200,000 people are expected to attend the event over the three days.
It is Europe's largest outdoor exhibition and agricultural trade show.
