The Agriculture Minister has criticised the IFA for trying to stop other groups from attending meetings with him yesterday.
Minister Charlie McConalogue said his 'door is always open' to farming groups who want to discuss issues affecting the industry.
It follows a large picket outside the Department of Agriculture in Dublin on Thursday, where a meeting was scheduled to take place to discuss new nitrogen limits.
Several farm groups invited to the meeting by the Minister joined an IFA-led protest outside Agriculture House.
Minister McConalogue told Newstalk Breakfast he was surprised at the IFA's reaction.
"I was surprised to see that one farm organisation who didn't accept the invitation then intervened to try and stop others who had planned to attend from attending," he said.
"Everybody makes their own choices in that regard."
Minister McConalogue said he will continue to invite farming groups to discussions.
"I'm working very closely with all farm representatives in order to provide the best possible leadership and indeed service to family farms across this country as well," he said.
"I invited all farming organisations to come and meet me yesterday morning, and all bar one organisation accepted the invitation.
"It's each farm organisation's prerogative to decide whether they accept an invitation or not."
'Important we work together'
Minister McConalogue said his door is "always open to all farm organisations."
"It's particularly important we work together to maintain this derogation," he said.
"It's up for negotiation again in two years' time."
He added that maintaining the derogation "is critical to our farming system".
What is nitrogen derogation?
It means a farmer must not exceed two dairy cows per hectare without a 250kg derogation, but can farm at almost three cows per hectare if approved for a derogation.
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