asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that in many parts of the country farmers are receiving not more than 1/9 per lb. for best quality farmers' butter, and if he will take steps to have this price increased or, alternatively, make provision for a creamery service in such areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farmers' Butter.
The market for farmers' butter is entirely free, and, that being the case, the price obtainable by producers depends on the extent of public demand for the product. I have indicated on more than one occasion that the public taste has become so accustomed to creamery butter that it will not readily take to farmers' butter, however excellent its quality.
During the past two years, the Dairy Disposal Company has, at my request, taken steps to relieve the difficulties of home butter-makers by providing facilities, wherever practicable, for the collection of their milk supplies for manufacture into creamery butter, and I am happy to say that, in most of the principal home butter-making areas, notably Counties Clare, Galway, Cork and Kerry, a creamery service is now available where none existed formerly. In other areas where substantial quantities of farmers' butter are produced and where no creameries at present exist, the company is examining the possibility of erecting one or more factories to which farmers could send their milk for manufacture into cheese. Should this prove feasible, farmers in those areas will find it more remunerative to sell their milk to the factory, where it is hoped the manufacture of cheese will be associated with the fattening of pigs on a ration in which they will constitute a part.
Will the Minister say how he can reconcile the price of 1/9 per lb. paid for good quality farmers' butter with the 3/6 per lb. charged for off the ration creamery butter? Does not the Minister think that the margin is altogether too wide?
Yes, I think it is, but what does the Deputy suggest I should do? Three shillings and sixpence is the economic price for creamery butter, related to the present fixed price for creamery milk.
Is the Minister aware that the creamery facilities he has provided up to the present do not apply to a large part of counties in Leinster?
If the Deputy has Wexford and Wicklow in mind, so have I in the last sentence of my reply.