Farming representative bodies yesterday formally ratified the social partnership agreement Towards 2016, following months of additional discussion with Government representatives.
Negotiations, which concluded with union and business representative groups before the summer holidays, had continued with the farming groups following delays caused by a row over pollution control measures.
Welcoming the ratification, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday that the package of measures in the agreement, would ensure "a strong, viable and competitive agriculture sector in Ireland in the years ahead".
"Conclusion of this chapter of Towards 2016 once again demonstrates the value of the partnership process in securing consensus," he said.
"While it was inevitable in negotiations that not every demand would be met, the package of measures arrived at shows that participation in social partnership is the best way to secure an outcome that takes account of everyone's interests."
The programme includes a range of Government commitments on grant aid and funding for the farming sector, including a large increase in aid levels under the rural environmental protection scheme, which pays farmers to introduce more environmentally friendly farming methods on their land.
The farming organisations believe the measures agreed in the programme will be worth an additional €320 million to the dairy sector, while the package for the beef sector is worth €250 million over the period of the agreement.