asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what price it is proposed to pay farmers next year for (1) malting barley, and (2) feeding barley.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Feeding and Malting Barley.
It is not proposed to exercise official control over the price of either malting or feeding barley of the 1951 crop. The price of malting barley is a matter for arrangement between the growers and the principal industrial users. As regards feeding barley arrangements will be made for the purchase by Grain Importers (Eire), Limited, at 32/- per barrel of such quantity of feeding barley as growers may not elect to sell elsewhere or use for feeding to their own stock.
Is the Minister aware that feeding barley at 35/- is worth approximately 50/- per barrel? Does he think he will encourage the growing of feeding barley by offering the ridiculous price of 32/-? Does he not feel that in offering such a low price he is only discouraging or killing the growing of feeding barley?
Is the Deputy aware that the average yield of Archer Spratt feeding barley, which is at present commonly grown, is 17 cwts. per statute acre and the average yield envisaged for Ymer feeding barley is 40 cwts. per statute acre? There is a slight difference in the consequential monetary yield to the grower.
Is the Minister aware that tests carried out by his departmental officers in my county reveal that the average yield last year of Ymer was about 20 cwts. per statute acre?
I am not so aware; but if the Deputy took the average of the worst farmers in Ireland, who are not the farmers of Wicklow, he would find that the average yield was 3.2 cwts. I am taking the average of competent farmers, not only in Wicklow but in every other one of the 26 counties which is at present under the jurisdiction of this Government.
Is the Minister aware that I am referring to special tests carried out by his own Department?
Question No. 31.