asked the Minister for Agriculture whether it is the policy of his Department to promote the use of ammonium sulphate as a fertiliser in preference to nitrate fertilisers, and if he will make a statement on the supply and use of nitrogenous fertilisers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ammonium Sulphate as Fertiliser.
Major de Valera
The policy of my Department is to promote the most efficient use of nitrogenous fertilisers of all types. In general no distinction is drawn between sulphate of ammonia and fertilisers based on ammonium nitrate, but preference is given to one or other of these fertilisers in relation to special circumstances of soil and cropping conditions. Present conditions of compounding necessitate, in the main, the use of sulphate of ammonia as a nitrogen source.
There are no restrictions on the importation of nitrogenous fertilisers and importers should have no difficulty in obtaining their full requirements of the various types on offer. As I indicated in my reply to a question by the Deputy yesterday the prices are slightly below those prevailing last season.
Major de Valera
The point of my question is that, in looking to the future, would the Minister prefer to see a concentration of ammonium sulphate rather than ammonium nitrate or any other nitrogenous fertilisers?
Quite honestly, my reaction to that would be entirely, or almost entirely, based on which would provide nitrogen at the lowest unit cost to the farmers of this country and I have not got that information. I take it the Deputy has in mind the question of whether proposals were made for the manufacture of sulphate of ammonia in this country and if I had a predilection for one instead of another. The answer is "no," except when it would come to light if two products were to be chosen between and one would provide the farmer with nitrogenous units cheaper than the other, I would be in favour of the cheaper one.
Major de Valera
I take it then that the Minister reduces the matter to one of price—that if there were proposals for the manufacture of nitrogenous fertilisers his Department would not press in favour of ammonium sulphate as against nitrate products except on a question of economic price.
I would not be prepared to say exclusive economic price, but I do say that would be the predominant idea in my mind.
Major de Valera
I may then take it that with the exception of the economic price problem, the Department have no particular interest in one form of nitrogenous fertiliser as against the other within, of course, the restriction of nitrates as against ammonium.
I am reluctant to give the Deputy the comprehensive answer he seeks for fear I might have overlooked some facet of the problem that should be considered. There is always the question of compounding. However, fundamentally, my approach to the two would be to provide nitrogenous units at the lowest cost to the farmers of the country.