asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will recommend that farmers in non-grain growing areas undertake grain growing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grain Production.
14.
The local agricultural advisory service is in the best position to guide farmers as to the type of farming enterprise best suited to their particular circumstances. I would, of course, welcome an increase in cereal production in the non-grain growing areas especially by farmers who would use the grain for feeding to their own livestock.
Does the Minister realise that because of the poor price for store cattle farmers may be inclined to go in for grain growing which has been discontinued for a number of years? If this happens in an area where there are no facilities for drying grain there will be a change in the pattern of farming——
This is a very long question.
Can farmers be told the grain prices for next winter so that they will not be faced with the massive increases that occurred this year?
As the Deputy knows, it is almost impossible to forecast grain prices which are dependent on world prices. Many factors affect world prices.
Will the instructors under the direction of the Minister, give an indication to the farmers what to do in areas that are not traditionally grain-growing areas?
The local instructors and the farmers are the best judges of what they can grow economically. There are areas where farmers must decide against growing grain because the soil and the terrain would not enable them economically to produce the grain. In this instance they would go over to other crops.
Is the Minister aware that having regard to the poor trade for store cattle and the high prices obtaining for grain——
I have allowed the Deputy quite a number of supplementary questions. I am calling on Deputy Collins.
Would the Minister be kind enough to tell us what positive action he and the Government propose to take to encourage more grain growing for very obvious reasons?
The Deputy made this kind of remark previously about our failure to get people to grow more grain in 1973. He knows the grain was in the ground before we took office. There is nothing I can do to force farmers to grow a particular crop. I will certainly do everything possible to encourage and advise them to grow more grain but I cannot compel them to do so.
Due to the very inclement weather we have had, I doubt very much if there was much grain in the ground up to now. The Minister still has plenty of time if he wanted to take positive action——
The Deputy is making a statement. I am calling Question No. 15.
On at least three occasions I made a speech asking the people to grow more grain in the present year.
I am calling Question No. 15.
I have been trying to get in for some time.
Question No. 15 has been called.