asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that seed of malting barley, feeding barley and oats is being sold back to farmers by merchants at twice the price they paid for it, and if he will take steps to ensure that excessive profits are not taken by the trade, as this practice is militating against increased production of stock foods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Barley and Oats Seed.
Mr. Walsh
I am not aware that seed barley and oats are being sold to farmers by merchants at twice the price paid or that excessive profits are being taken by seed merchants generally. If we are to have sufficient seed grain of a proper standard of germination available for sowing requirements the merchants who undertake the assembly, cleaning, storage and distribution of seed grain must be allowed a reasonable profit in addition to the expense of handling. It is therefore to be expected that the price of the cleaned seed when put on sale in the spring will be substantially higher than the price at which the freshly threshed grain was purchased in the autumn.
Would the Minister indicate what he would consider to be a reasonable profit for these services?
That is a separate question.
Mr. Walsh
It depends on the locality and on the expenses involved in the collecting, cleaning and drying of the grain.