asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the prices paid in October, 1975, and October, 1976, for (a) pigs per cwt. and (b) pig meal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig and Pig Meal Prices.
23.
Prices paid for top quality pigs in October, 1976, ranged from £36.00 to £38.00 per cwt. dead weight as compared with £33.50 to £37.40 in October, 1975. The average list prices of pig fattening meal ranged from £105.25 to £112.29 per tonne in October, 1976, as compared with £82.25 to £85.85 per tonne in October, 1975.
That was the point I was making a while ago, that the price of meal has jumped by almost 30 per cent but the price paid for pigs has not, irrespective of what the meat costs in the shops. The price of meal has gone sky high but the price for the finished product has not risen in accordance with it and the result is that some producers will be put out of business. The Department must take control of the situation.
The figures supplied do not tell the whole story because large scale pig producers are likely to get a bonus payment from their bacon factory and, at the same time, be in a position to get a discount from their grain merchant. These are published prices.
The grain merchant has a lovely bonus which the Minister did not mention either.
Does the Minister not think he should have a discussion with the Minister for Industry and Commerce in relation to this matter because some type of control will have to be introduced? The prices obtaining for the finished product and the price paid for feed barley a few months ago are not related and some measure will have to be taken to safeguard pig producers
No approaches were made to me by the producers along the lines suggested by the Deputy, that this should be brought under control again.
The difference between the price being paid for meal and the price obtained for the finished product——
Hog-corn relationship is what it is called.
The Minister mentioned a bonus but I should like to remind him that the small producer will not get a bonus. A producer would need to be involved in a big way in the industry before he would qualify for a bonus. We almost cleared out pig producers before by mismanagement and unless the Minister takes a serious view of this matter they will be finished again.