asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the statement that it pays to grow wheat or advice to grow more wheat is based on statistics in the possession of his Department; and, if so, if he will state where these statistics can be found.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat-growing Statistics.
Dr. Ryan
Official statistics show that the area under wheat in 1932 was, approximately, 20,000 acres, and that following the inception of the Government's scheme for the encouragement of wheat-growing, the area grew steadily until in 1936 it exceeded 250,000 acres, clearly indicating that an increasing number of farmers have satisfied themselves that wheat-growing is remunerative.
Are statistics to demonstrate the correctness of that assumption on the part of farmers available in the Department of Agriculture?
Dr. Ryan
These are the most telling statistics.
The Minister has conducted no experiments of his own on the demonstration plots in the country or got costings or returns from these plots to satisfy himself?
Dr. Ryan
We have returns, but not with regard to costings.