Since the start of this week, members of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) have been staging a round-the-clock protest outside the offices of Bord Bia in Dublin, demanding the removal of Bord Bia Chairman Larry Murrin from his role.
The issue has also been the subject of multiple heated debates in the Dáil this week.
The dispute centres on Mr Murrin's company Dawn Farms' use of some Brazilian beef in its meat products.
Farmers have drawn a line in the sand on the issue, demanding he goes.
Some opposition politicians, notably Sinn Féin, are of the same view.
So, how did we get here?
It all started with the Beef Plan Movement - a group representing beef farmers.
The organisation was prominent back in 2019 when its members protested outside processing plants over how much farmers were being paid.
Around two weeks ago, the organisation raised questions about the fast-food chain Subway's meat-sourcing policy after noticing a sign displayed in one of its Irish restaurants.
This sign had details of Dawn Farms' approved sourcing certification for meat for Subway, which it supplies with pre-cooked meat.
It stated that Dawn Farms sources beef from the EU and Brazil.
This quickly gained traction, largely because Dawn Farms is owned by Mr Murrin, who is also Chairperson of Bord Bia, the semi-State agency responsible for promoting Irish agri-food.
Farming groups said the fact Dawn Farms has been using some Brazilian beef in the products it supplies creates a conflict of interest for Mr Murrin, given it goes against the ethos of Bord Bia.
Both the IFA and group representing dairy farmers, the ICMSA, have called on Mr Murrin to step down as chair as a result.
Sinn Féin have also been prominent in their opposition to Mr Murrin.
However, the Government has rowed in behind the Bord Bia Chair, saying he would not be removed and that he has done nothing wrong.
Is any sort of compromise realistic?
With both sides as entrenched as they are, it is tricky to see a mutually agreeable solution at this stage.
At the IFA protest on Monday, I asked the farming group's president if there is a possible compromise that could be reached between the IFA and Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture that would see Mr Murrin stay in place as chairman.
Francie Gorman simply replied: "If there was a compromise we wouldn't be here ... the chairman has to go and the sooner the better."
This absolute stance from the IFA is understandable, especially in the context of the current debate around the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
Brazilian beef imports are a sensitive topic for Irish farmers right now, indeed it is the main tenet of their opposition to Mercosur.
They fear cheap South American beef imports - that may not be subject to the same regulations as they are - undercutting them.
But Dawn Farms said the amount of Brazilian beef it used last year was less than 1% of the overall supply, which is not a lot in real terms.
Though the IFA will point out the optics are bad.
On the flipside, the Government said it secured a big win for Irish farming recently, getting an extension of the nitrates derogation.
And that it stood by farmers in opposing Mercosur, and there is a sense the Minister for Agriculture feels farmers - and the IFA in particular - have overstepped the mark here and are being unreasonable.
Interestingly, the group representing dairy farmers - the ICMSA - which also wants Mr Murrin to step aside, is calling on all sides to take a breath, and talk to each other.
The ICMSA is also suggesting there are bigger issues for farmers right now, notably the detection of bluetongue in Wexford.
Another consideration in Government circles is if they back down on this issue and agree to remove Mr Murrin from his Bord Bia role, it could reflect badly on them, and they might struggle to fill similar roles in future with suitably qualified candidates.
Bord Bia has remained largely quiet in the whole debate.
It issued a statement this week aimed at not upsetting the apple cart, saying it understands "farmers' concerns and will continue to engage constructively, while respecting the decision of our board and the minister".
What is likely to happen next?
Mr Murrin has accepted an invitation to appear before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee to discuss Dawn Farms' use of Brazilian beef in some of its products.
That will take place next Thursday.
Also next week, Sinn Féin will keep the pressure on the Government by bringing a motion before the Dáil calling on Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to act and remove Mr Murrin from his Bord Bia role.
Either or both of these events could help move things on considerably.
The soundings from the Government side though are it is not for turning on the issue, leaving a huge divide between themselves and farmers.
Which is notable, because only two weeks ago Minister Heydon attended the IFA's AGM, where he received a warm welcome.
But since then, there has been a rapid deterioration in the relationship because of this controversy.
Aside from the Government's resolute support for Mr Murrin, what especially incensed the IFA in recent days were comments in the Dáil from the Minister for Agriculture in which he claimed their protest has played a considerable part in damaging the reputation of Bord Bia - and not Dawn Farms act of importing Brazilian beef.
IFA President Mr Gorman said farmers were "very angry about some of the comments," which he claimed were "designed to undermine our democratic association".
"I have never seen farmers so resolute on an issue, and they will not be distracted by these attempts to smear the work of the organisation," the IFA President added.
The back and forth on this has only deepened the divide between the two sides, and has also potentially prolonged the dispute.
It is also worth noting the likes of the Beef Plan Movement and the Independent Ireland political group have been getting louder in their opposition to Mercosur.
Perhaps the IFA feels its prominent position here is under threat somewhat, and the organisation needs to show strength and make a stand, with the Mr Murrin situation an ideal opportunity to do just that.
The question now is who will cave in first? Both sides have plenty to lose with a climb-down.
The only other plausible alternative is for Mr Murrin to fall on his sword and step down of his own accord.
However, based on his public comments so far that seems unlikely.
He, like the Government, feels he has done nothing wrong and in his defence might point to a huge increase in agri-food exports (to record levels) during his Bord Bia tenure.
Though with farmers setting up camp outside the semi-State's offices - armed with flasks of tea, sandwiches, bales of hay, and a gazebo - this controversy could have quite a bit of road left to run.
