Vol. 215 No. 14
(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Agriculture whether in view of the extra costings and limited percentage of supplies likely to qualify under the quality milk scheme he will consider raising the extra price from one penny to twopence per gallon.
47.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can state the percentage of the total number of creameries which have agreed to operate the premium milk subsidy scheme.
48.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the percentage of creamery milk suppliers who have qualified for the penny bonus on premium milk.
49.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will for the present season grant the bonus on quality milk to any supplier whose milk comes up to the required standard in two out of the four tests per month.
50.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the penny per gallon bonus on quality milk is a totally inadequate incentive, in view of the high cost of equipping the average farm for the production of milk of the required standard; and if he will increase it.
51.
asked the Minister for Agriculture what instructions have been issued by his Department to creamery managers regarding the carrying out of milk quality tests.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51, together.
Eighty-five per cent of the total number of creameries and cream-separating stations have so far agreed to participate in the creamery milk quality grading scheme. As the scheme only came into operation on 1st May and is operated on a monthly basis, it will not be possible until returns are received after the end of this month to state precisely the percentage of creamery milk suppliers who have qualified for the additional payment of 1d per gallon. Preliminary indications, however, would appear to be that more than 50 per cent of the total samples tested in the first half of May reached premium standard.
As the purpose of the scheme is to improve the quality of milk, I do not think it would be desirable to reduce from three to two the number of satisfactory milk tests which would qualify the milk supplier for the payment of the special premium.
I do not agree that production of high quality milk involves expensive equipment. Provided suppliers adopt a good standard of hygiene in the production and handling of milk on farms, a substantial proportion of the milk should qualify for the price premium. Cooling is undoubtedly important, particularly in warm weather, in ensuring that milk maintains its original quality until reaching the creamery, but hygienic production is still the fundamental factor. It should also be borne in mind that the price premium is a continuing one and that any capital expenditure that may initially be incurred can be spread over a number of years.
Loans for the purchase of milk coolers are obtainable on easy terms by milk suppliers and creameries from the Agricultural Credit Corporation.
As the instructions issued to creamery managers for the testing of milk under the scheme are lengthy, I have arranged to have copies made available in the Library of the House.
(South Tipperary): May I take it that the Minister is satisfied that the 1d per gallon is adequate in relation to these increased costs of quality production milk?
As a colleague beside me points out, it is better than the one shilling per gallon altogether for milk. The 1d is not meant to be specifically related to costs. It is a bonus, an incentive, to encourage farmers to improve the quality of the milk. It is a bonus for clean, quality milk.
