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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Feb 1943

Vol. 89 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Introduction of Foreign Grain.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the increased quantity of foreign grain appearing in the various strains of commercial seed wheat and oats that are at present available, he will say what consideration his Department has given to this problem; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that no further deterioration in purity of available strain of seed will take place.

I am aware that some admixture of types occurs in crops of wheat and oats grown from seed obtained from commercial sources. Admixtures have always been present to some extent in these crops and are, in fact, inevitable because of the adulteration due to the use of the same threshing set by a number of farmers.

My Department has for some years produced pedigree foundation stocks of both oats and wheat, which have been allocated mainly to seedsmen for further propagation. Measures are at present under consideration with a view to the further extension of this work and particularly with a view to increasing the total quantity of second and third pedigree seed of proven strains which will be available to growers.

Would the Minister think of making any provision for the inspection of crops that are intended for commercial seed?

The Deputy knows that, in the case of barley, there is very little trouble, as the commercial people are with us. We want to get into the same position, if we can, with regard to wheat. I think we will be able to get the commercial wheat interests to work with us and then everything will be all right.

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