Millions of euro in farm payments hang in the balance following the collapse in CAP talks last week.

EU negotiators will meet again in just over three weeks to thrash out the remaining issues, namely eco schemes, convergence and front-loading.

A quarter of all direct payment money will be ringfenced for environmental measures in eco schemes, but how to prevent unspent funds being lost to farmers is unresolved.

Agreement has yet to be reached on the redistribution of 10% of direct payments.

MEPs want front-loaded top-up payments for small farms introduced but farm ministers want exemptions for convergence.

The rate of convergence looks set to be 85%.

As tensions mount, farm organisations are split as the IFA says the proposals will damage Irish agriculture, while the INHFA maintains they will deliver for the majority of farmers.

Battle lines are being drawn. A motion is to go before the IFA council next week on the prospect of regionalising the convergence of payments, a move that could reduce the flow of money from east to west.

Meanwhile, an internal IFA row is continuing over coupled payments.