A meeting of the Food Vison Dairy group, at which it was hoped there would be agreement on a suite of measures to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from the dairy sector, has ended without agreement.
Sticking points remain over a proposal to reduce the use of chemical Nitrogen by 30% with some farmer representatives wanting a lower percentage.
There are also concerns about what funding might be available if a proposed voluntary exit or reduction scheme for dairy farmers is introduced.
Fears over any suggestion to look at a cap and trade emissions model for farms were also expressed.
The meeting at the Department of Agricultures Backweston Campus near Celbridge ended just after 3pm.
Another meeting to try and get agreement is expected to take place next week.
The Food Vision Dairy Group was set up by Minister for Agriculture last January to come up with recommendations to first stabilise and then reduce emissions from the sector, which has been growing year on year since 2015 when milk quotas ended.
Cow numbers in the country have risen by 400,000 since 2015 and now exceed 1.6 million.
The group has circulated a final draft report to members with 18 suggested actions.
Farmers have concerns about a number of the actions.
