asked the Minister for Agriculture if in order to have advance information of the acreage of wheat that will be grown next year so as to make the best arrangements for transport, storage and drying and in order to provide growers with adequate and cheap credit facilities for seeds and manures he will consider having wheat grown under contract as in the case of sugar beet and further, if he will have a costing investigation carried out on next year's crop.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Growing.
Since farmers are given a guaranteed price for all wheat of suitable millable quality it would appear that their position is no less secure than that of those farmers who grow best under contract. In the latter case, the area is specified but in the case of the former there is no limitation as to area, which confers an advantage on growers of wheat.
I can see no prospect of arranging for the costing of the 1952 wheat crop.
Is the Minister aware that a considerable advantage is derived by beet growers in securing very substantial amounts of fertilisers on credit as against the crop, and that the large supplies of fertilisers distributed on credit have resulted in an increase over the last few years in the yield per acre of beet? Would he not expect a similar result in the case of wheat? In regard to costings, I would ask him to consider the urgency of the matter, having regard to the importance of the wheat crop in our economy. If we are to have costings in regard to any aspect of agricultural production this, I suggest, is one of the first branches of agriculture in which they should be taken.
I am given to understand that the wheat growers have no difficulty in securing artificial manures if they desire to use them, and on the facts as reported to me I cannot see where their position is any worse; in fact I think it is better than that of beet growers. As far as the costings of the 1952 crop are concerned, I have stated that it is not possible to have such costings made.
Will the Minister inquire into the matter, because farmers do find difficulty in getting the large supplies of fertilisers which they require from merchants on credit? Merchants cannot always be in a position to make available large quantities on credit.
I will see if any complaints have been made to the Department on the heading.