asked the Taoiseach the number of sows and gilts in pig in this country on 1st March in 1973 and 1974.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Stocks.
1.
An enumeration of pig stocks is not carried out in respect of 1st March. The latest information available relates to December, 1973, when the number of sows in pig was estimated at 61,400, the number of other sows kept for breeding at 44,300 and the number of gilts in pig at 13,300. The corresponding figures for December, 1972, were 63,200, 41,100 and 13,500 respectively. Thus the total breeding herd was estimated at 119,000 in December, 1973, compared with 117,800 in December, 1972.
How many tits have these sows?
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say in the context of this drop in breeding herds, the beginning of which is only revealed by his reply, how the issuing of a licence to a bacon plant in West Cork can be justified?
That is a separate question.
Perhaps the Deputy did not understand what I said in the reply. In fact, the number of the breeding herd in December, 1973, was a little greater than it had been in December, 1972.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary seriously suggest that the situation now is that there are more breeding pigs than there were a year ago? If he does he is talking nonsense.
I said December, 1973, and these are the last figures I have got.
2.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the considerable drop in pig numbers and the consequent fall-off in market demand, he will make a statement on the prospects for grain producers in respect of the coming harvest.
Producer prices for milling wheat and malting barley for the coming harvest have been agreed between the growers and the trade interests concerned. The price of home-grown feed barley must, however, be related to the price of imported grain and will depend on world market conditions at harvest time. As production of feed barley is expected to fall substantially short of our requirements, producers should have no problem in disposing of the crop.
Did the Minister say that producers should have no bother disposing of their crop and if he did would he say if he meant on the home market or abroad? It is quite likely that he will not have the pigs and cattle in such great numbers as before to use up this grain.
We have a shortfall of feed grain in this country in the region of 400,000 tons and there is a very big shortfall in the North of Ireland as well. I do not think there will be any difficulty in this regard.
Would the Minister not accept that in the current situation with regard to the relation between the price of pigs and the price of pig feed that it is now vitally necessary for farmers who can do it to produce their own barley and store it? If farmers do that they will be able to produce the pig rations a great deal cheaper than if they have to purchase from manufacturers. Since this is so——
The Deputy should avoid making a speech on the matter.
——would the Minister urgently consider the introduction of a special scheme of grants for the storage of barley on the farm?
I have exhorted farmers on numerous occasions to do exactly as the Deputy has suggested. The Deputy is also aware that there are substantial grants available for grain storage on farms.
Are grants being paid for anything at present?