asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will comment on the increase of over 70 per cent in the value of imports of cereal and cereal preparations in the first half of 1971 over the first half of 1970.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cereal Imports.
44.
Stocks of native grain at the beginning of 1971 were much lower than those at the beginning of 1970. This was the result of the increased use of native grain in the second half of 1970 and restricted imports in that period arising from the high level of grain prices on the world market. As a result the quantity of grain imported in the first half of 1971 was greater than the quantity imported in the same period in 1970. This, in addition to the fact that the average prices per ton of imported barley and milo were £8.50 and £3.50, respectively, higher in 1971 than in 1970, accounts for the substantial rise in the value of imports of barley and milo. I may mention that this is partially offset by a reduction of almost £1.1 million in the value of imports of other items of animal feed. The net increase in the value of imports of cereals and animal feed combined, for the period in question, was 30 per cent above the figure for the corresponding period in 1970.
Does the Minister anticipate this trend continuing or will there be a decrease in imports next year?
I should not like to speculate on that. The acreage of barley is likely to increase. That is a personal speculation. I think it should increase in view of the on-coming of the EEC and the rapidly developing practice on the part of farmers to overwinter cattle in the yard, using homegrown grain as a supplementary feeding stuff.
What does the Minister mean by the over-wintering of cattle in the yard?
The practice some years back was to bring grass-fed cattle to the market at this time of year. That resulted in a glut. The grass had run out. With the introduction of silage the pattern has changed. The number of cattle is rising rapidly and farmers carry large numbers of cattle over the winter. That is what I mean by over-wintering.
If the Minister wants to put that interpretation on it, that is all right, as far as I am concerned, but it is not the correct interpretation.
I am sorry if my phraseology does not meet with Deputy O'Donovan's approval. I am doing the best I can.