asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has made any statements in the last six months to encourage the erection of self-feed silage units which are so important for the farming community; and, if so, if he will give details.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Self-Feed Silage Units.
16.
My Department and county committees of agriculture have in a practical manner continued to give every encouragement to livestock producers to increase silage-making, including the provision of self-feed silage units, through the medium of the Department's grants schemes and various forms of farm advisory work.
Is the Minister aware of the desirability of having self-feed silage units erected on every farm in the country in order to feed dairy cows properly during the winter and also in order that cattle can be fit for sale in the spring when the price is reasonably good and not have, as very frequently happens, a glut in the autumn? Is the Minister aware that only a very small fraction of farmers, especially small farmers, have self-feed units, and would he be prepared to give a higher grant to farmers under a certain valuation to encourage them to erect these self-feed silage units?
The fact that we have the grants operating as they do is indicative of our wish that there would be as many as possible of these units available throughout the country. As regards differentiating in favour of the small farmer, this is a matter which is not new to me, and if the opportunity arises and it is the proper thing to do, there will be nobody to do it quicker than I.