asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the near approach of the season for sowing spring wheat, he will publish the details of any proposals he may have for an increase in the guaranteed price of wheat for the coming season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Spring Wheat.
I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the question tabled by Deputy Corry on this subject on the 22nd February.
Has the Minister, in the first week of March, 1951, on the edge of the spring sowing of wheat, not yet decided what price farmers are to receive for the wheat they may grow this year? Is he further aware that, owing to the uneconomic fixed price offered, the wheat acreage in this country is likely to drop by many thousands of acres in the present year? Is it the Minister's fixed policy to reduce the acreage of wheat? Is he further aware that the price he is offering of £25 per ton to Irish farmers to grow wheat, as compared to the £31 17s. 0d. per ton which he is paying to the Canadian and American farmers to grow wheat for our use, is no incentive to Irish farmers to continue to grow wheat?
I am aware that in 1947——
A famine year.
——the Government which the Deputy was then supporting forecast that the acreage of wheat in this country in 1950-51 would be 247,000 acres? There were, in fact, 366,012 acres grown, so that whatever we grow this year in Ireland will be a damn sight more than what the Deputy intended to grow three years ago.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
Question No. 38.