asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether he has satisfied himself that it is not detrimental to wheat growing to allow a price of 84/- per barrel for malting barley and, further, if it is his intention to put a controlled price on barley should it interfere with the growing of wheat, in view of the previous Fianna Fáil policy during the emergency to regulate the price of barley so as to induce farmers to grow wheat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Barley Prices.
Mr. Walsh
Farmers are free to produce the crops which they consider will give them the best financial return. The basic price of 75/- per barrel or 3/9 per stone recently announced in respect of wheat of the 1952 crop compares favourably with the minimum price of 57/6 per barrel or approximately 3/7 per stone guaranteed by the principal industrial users for malting barley of the 1952 crop. Farmers have no assurance that the price of malting barley will be in the region of 84/- per barrel next year. It must be remembered that approximately 130,000 acres of malting barley will produce the country's full requirements and barley produced in excess of that quantity will command a price related to its value as an animal feeding-stuff. On the other hand, there is a guaranteed market at a guaranteed price for the full quantity of wheat which may be produced.
In the circumstances it is not intended to exercise official control over the price of barley of the 1952 crop.
Would the Minister in fixing the price of wheat next year be prepared to put in a proviso that it will not be less per stone than the price of malting barley?
Mr. Walsh
I have already fixed the price for wheat for the 1952 season.
You can fix it again.