asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the necessity for securing feeding barley for stock food, he will increase the minimum price of feeding barley to a price that will be an inducement to tillage farmers to increase their acreage of feeding barley.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Feeding Barley Price.
As indicated in a recent Press announcement, the guaranteed minimum price for Ymer barley offered by farmers after next harvest has been increased from 16/- to 20/- per cwt. It must be remembered, however, that this is a minimum price which farmers may receive for such quantity as they may produce surplus to their individual requirements. As I have previously stated on many occasions, farmers will get the most profitable returns by using the feeding stuffs produced by them for feeding to their own live stock.
In view of the present international situation, there is no assurance that we shall be able to continue to secure sufficient imported feeding stuffs to meet our full requirements, even at the exceptionally high prices which are at present obtaining. I would, accordingly, like to take this further opportunity of impressing on farmers the urgent necessity for increasing substantially the acreage under cereal crops and ensilage this year.
You are no longer our Minister for maize.
Is the Minister aware that the price which he has to charge here for the barley he brought in last year from abroad is over £26 per ton and, in view of that, will he at least endeavour to pay the natives as much as he paid the niggers?
The Deputy's eloquent and touching observations will doubtless further encourage farmers to grow on their own land that which he so delicately suggests might cost them more if imported from foreign sources.