The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has expressed disappointment at farm organisations' attitudes to the pay talks.
Speaking at a function in Maam Cross, Co Galway, last night, Mr Ahern said he very much regretted that the farm organisations did not consider it possible to recommend the text of the proposed partnership agreement, which includes a paper on agricultural issues to their members.
His comments will come as a blow to the farm organisations who earlier this week had said that only the Taoiseach could salvage the farming pillar of the partnership agreement.
The main farming organisations claim the Government's offer does not address their income crisis.
Speaking in Maam Cross at a function to mark the 75th anniversary of the Galway West Fianna Fáil Comhairle Dáil Ceantair, Mr Ahern said: "I believe that in the context of the overall resources, and bearing in mind budgetary realities, the offer made to the farm organisations is both generous and creative."
He hoped they would "reconsider their position and see the merit of remaining within the framework of social partnership to advance their objectives" because "their contribution to the social partnership process over the years has been significant.
Mr Ahern continued: "I would ask the farm organisations to bear in mind that it is in the national interest that there be no return to the days of mass Government borrowing."
Farmers could "play their part in safeguarding our economic prospects at a time of international uncertainty" by ensuring social partnership was sustained and renewed.
He reiterated the Government's commitment towards a "vibrant modern rural community with the best of telecommunications, physical and social infrastructure and a variety of job opportunities".
He added that "the growth of our towns and cities, which is very welcome, should not be at the expense of rural areas."
"I recognise that the countryside of the dispersed village, or townland, or 'baile fearann' as it is called in Irish, is as real a village to those that live in it as the town or city is to urban dwellers."
Mr Ahern hoped that the "modern rural Ireland" of the future would "retain those bonds of friendship and kinship that have made it so attractive to native and visitor alike."
"The traditional loyalties to townland, parish and county have been a binding force in Ireland over the last 100 years and have been a major motivational force in social and economic development," Mr Ahern said.
Nevertheless, rural Ireland would "have to change and adopt with the change in times".
"The rural Ireland of the future, although still heavily dependent on agriculture, will have to have a fully diversified economy," he said.