asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he can give an indication of the extent of the problem of disposal of surplus milk already encountered this year; and whether his Department have had any discussions with creamery societies and others with a view to formulating plans to prevent a recurrence of this problem next year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of Surplus Milk.
13.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his previous question on this subject on 14th June. As I indicated on that occasion, I am not aware that creameries have had any difficulty in disposing of surplus milk but I understand that a few creameries did experience difficulty in disposing of surplus skim during the period of peak milk deliveries this year.
Discussions have taken place over the past few months between my Department, the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, and representatives of co-operative societies and other interests regarding the establishment in the near future of additional plants for the manufacture of cheese and milk powder.
These factories are, among other things, expected to make a major contribution towards problems of skim milk disposal over wide areas surrounding their location, but the creameries with which they are associated will naturally have first call on their services in this respect. Those creameries which this year experienced some difficulty in disposing of surplus skim milk would, in my opinion, be well advised to adopt the solution which has proved successful elsewhere and, depending on their particular circumstances, either amalgamate with appropriate existing neighbouring groups that have access to diversification facilities or, where such facilities do not exist, co-operate with their neighbours in the erection of a suitable plant of their own.
Could the Minister say if this extra capacity will be available in the coming year to deal with skim milk, which is supposed to be going down the drain at present?
That will be a matter for the creameries.
Surely the Minister will give some lead on this?
In what way?
If the Minister had his finger on the pulse of the situation, he should.
I have already indicated it.
Does the Minister not agree that it is a serious situation if it can be said that a fairly considerable quantity of skim milk that could be processed is being wasted? Surely he will intervene to bring about agreement between the parties concerned to get this extra capacity in time for next year?
Would the Minister not agree that all the indications are that in the coming year milk production will be up again considerably? Is this not the time to take steps to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the situation which has arisen where it is a fact that hundreds of thousands of gallons of milk have had to be thrown down the drain?
It is rather a shame for people to admit that they throw skim milk down the drain, because, apart from these facilities altogether, there was a time when skim milk was used for other purposes and it is surprising that it is no longer regarded as worth its place on the farm. We do, by means of supports, which will probably run as high as £18 million this year, try to ensure that milk supplies will be taken up and that any surplus milk, that is, whole milk, does not become surplus to the point of throwing it away. The extra skim milk which results from higher production of milk, which this year is running at 14 per cent above last year's level, together with the fact that higher prices are realised for skim milk, as high as 5d per gallon and perhaps more in isolated cases, are factors which have caused more skim milk to be diverted by farmers from uses which were traditional in the past to this particular usage of having it manufactured. These factors are creating the difficulty and, as I have said, it is for the creameries themselves, with whom we have already had discussions and the IAOS who are very concerned about this matter, to initiate the steps that can be taken to provide additional facilities. It is by getting together in groups of creameries that this can be done. In many cases, it is only by getting together that it can be done, and unless it is done, there is not a great deal the Minister for Agriculture can do about it. It is in their own interests that they should do it and those that have already done so know that not only is it in their interests but it is to their financial benefit as well. Any help that can be given by the Government will be given. As I said, we are supporting the milk industry probably to the tune of £18 million this year.
Is it not true that it is due to gross mismanagement by the Government that the milk industry is now in the doldrums?
That is a separate question.
No; the Minister says it was because the farmers are not using skim milk for the traditional purposes but it is not an economic proposition to feed skim milk to pigs——
It is better value to put it down the drain—is that the idea?
Is it not true that due to Government mismanagement, it does not pay to feed pigs now?
At the highest price ever—290/- ?
And so is the cost of feeding stuffs?
The Deputy never fed a pig.
I did, and more pigs than the Deputy.
(Interruptions.)
If people choose to use other ways to live, that is their business.
(Cavan): They were driven out of pig rearing.
In the time of the Deputy's Government, they did not have any alternative.
(Cavan): The Minister knows they were driven out of pigs.
(Interruptions.)