Before reporting progress I was dealing with the arrangements that have been made by the Government to stave off a fodder crisis similar to that which we had in 1974 and 1975. I was complimenting the Minister for Agriculture and the Government for the efforts they made, unlike their predecessors in 1974 and 1975 when thousands of livestock died from starvation. Was it not a pity that the men with the superior intelligence in 1974 failed to anticipate that situation in the same way as the Minister for Agriculture and the present Government anticipated it in 1980? That in itself has been a major contribution in assisting farmers in overcoming problems caused not by the Government but by our climate in 1980. That scheme has been well received by the farming community and particularly by the smaller farmers who have been able to avail of a silage-making grant for the first time. The success of that scheme will become more evident when figures are produced for the number participating.
The disadvantaged areas scheme is another major step in assisting the smaller farmers in the west, in the north-west and in parts of north Leinster. I would like, and it is not just a pious hope, to have that scheme broadened so as to cover livestock producers in the midlands and the Munster area because while the scheme is of enormous advantage to the small farmers in the west and north-west it does not have the same effect in the midlands where farm inputs tend to be more costly and farm rates very much a factor at the present time. I ask the Minister—there is no better man to do it—to use his good offices in Brussels and elsewhere to try to devise ways and means of extending the scheme to include other areas. The scheme is of tremendous advantage to those who can avail of it to the full. It is one of the best schemes that has come on the agricultural scene for a long time. It is clear evidence that we still have people in charge of agriculture who are capable of seizing an opportunity when it arises.
The sheep subsidy scheme is another major step forward. I am delighted that it is working so well in the west where we have such a large sheep population at present. That scheme should be continued. Together with the outlets on the French market, I am confident that it will play a major role in stabilising the income of those engaged in sheep production. The scheme is an excellent one and anything that I could say would be inadequate in terms of doing justice to it. Perhaps it will be found possible to extend the scheme further but in this regard we must bear in mind the constraints on the Government. In addition, constraints are being created from day to day in Brussels. However, if it had not been for that scheme, agriculture would be in a worse position than it is.
We are fortunate in being able to find markets for all our agricultural produce. This situation is unlike that of 1974 and 1975 when, for instance, it was impossible for farmers to dispose of dropped calves. We have all heard the story of the farmer at the mart at that time who, on returning to his trailer in which he had left a dropped calf that he was trying to sell, found another calf had been left in the trailer. That is an indication of how bad the situation was then. The improvements that have been brought about are the result of the corrective measures taken by this Government. That is why the Minister should be given every cooperation in his efforts to improve the lot of the farming community.
We have many critics but there are very few who are able to put forward an alternative and workable solution. I was saddened to note recently that even farm leaders were unable to put forward any effective policy on their part which would lead towards an improvement in our agricultural scene. Their contribution was by way of asking for greater subventions from the State. I was one of those people who was convinced that our accession to the EEC would bring about a situation in which farmers would be able to operate both economically and profitably without the help of State subventions. Unfortunately, due to the hardening of attitudes on the part of consumers throughout Europe, it has been necessary to revert once again to the subvention system.
This year I have had the opportunity of visiting some other countries and during those visits I made special efforts to explore the farming scene. My most recent visit was to Greece and from what I found there I am convinced that that country will not be a serious competitor with us in our efforts to sell our produce on the European market. Instead, I expect Greece to become a customer of ours. Recently the Greek Minister for Agriculture, together with our Minister, signed an agreement creating another outlet for Irish dairy produce. In this connection I should like to pay tribute to Bord Bainne for the efforts they have made down through the years in marketing our dairy produce. The dairying industry has made a major contribution to our economy but had it not been for the establishment of Bord Bainne in the first instance, we would not have found it possible to achieve the success that has been achieved in this area. The board have explored markets throughout the world and they must be encouraged to continue to do so because we have an enormous capacity in the area of dairy produce and this produce is easier to dispose of than is beef, for instance, because milk is capable of being converted into milk powder and other products. It can be disposed of in countries in which it would not be possible for us to dispose of beef. The board must be given every encouragement to explore every market throughout the world. Dairying is an industry that is capable of quick expansion and at a time when there is retraction all over Europe it is encouraging for our farmers to know that there is a demand for their produce. Many of our co-operative creameries are urging farmers to increase their output and they are being encouraged in this regard by increased prices. I urge all dairy farmers to respond to this request. In this way they will increase their incomes to an extent that would not be possible otherwise.
On the question of the marketing of our beef and beef products, a more dynamic marketing board is required. I should like to see a situation in which all our beef exports would be in packet form, whether vac-packed or packed through the refrigerated system. Markets should be properly organised so that farmers would be aware a year in advance of the numbers of livestock that they could safely produce in the following year in terms of marketing. If farmers knew in advance the potential of each market, not only throughout Europe but throughout the world, they could plan accordingly. We are lucky in having intervention to fall back on but that is not the answer to the problem of surpluses in Europe. Properly organised marketing would represent a major step forward and would be of enormous benefit to the farmers who produce the raw materials. In this context the meat marketing board must step up their activities and explore the markets further. There is great potential in Germany in particular for Irish beef which is very much in demand there. The German consumers are pleased with this product but if the beef could be shipped direct to the German supermarkets and the other outlets, there would be the twofold benefit of our getting the maximum price for the product while the German consumer would be availing of a very fresh product. This is the sort of marketing programme that we must embark on if we are to meet the challenge of the future and if we are to ensure a future for our farmers. Just as Bord Bainne have assured a future for our dairying industry, the meat marketing people must ensure a future for the beef producers. I know that the Minister and the Government are concerned about this whole area and that they are anxious to streamline our marketing system so that our farmers may look forward to the future in the knowledge that there will be a market for their produce and that that produce can be disposed of at an economic price
Mention of prices brings me to the question of the more intensive areas of marketing. There is a hardening of attitude on the part of housewives in Europe towards paying higher prices for beef and beef products. That is a serious situation so far as the farming community is concerned because farm inputs have increased enormously during the years. Therefore, it is essential that greater emphasis be put on farm efficiency and in this connection the role of ACOT is becoming more significant. Farmers need expert advice if they are to become more efficient. Farm incomes will be improved only if there is more intensive production. I think an increase will be granted to agriculture when the Brussels package is hammered out this year. We do not know the extent of the increase but we realise it may not be adequate to compensate Irish farmers for the high cost of inputs. I have no doubt that this matter is receiving the close attention of the Minister, of the new agricultural bodies and of all of those people who are interested in improving the lot of our farmers.
If the farm organisations want to play their full role in improving the lot of their members they should face up to realities. They should get down to negotiations and try to hammer out the best deal. It is no use saying to the Government it is their problem. The farm organisations must be realistic. I am a member of such an organisation and I want to say to them that they have an opportunity now to show courage and leadership. The best way they can do that is to maintain the lines of communication between the Government, the Department of Agriculture and the various European bodies concerned. There is no use in shouting, in campaigning or in marching. That will achieve nothing. The Government are aware of the problems facing agriculture. They are sensitive to the needs of Irish farmers. There is no doubt that agriculture is our greatest single industry. If it thrives thousands of additional jobs can be created. The welfare of agriculture should be the concern of every section of society. In the past there has been far too much farmer bashing by the trade union movement which is well organised. There is little evidence that they have a clear understanding of the enormous problems faced by people engaged in agriculture. Now is the time to show responsibility. Now is the time to demonstrate leadership. Now is the time for action. Everyone concerned with agriculture must work together to get the best deal possible for Irish farmers in order to guarantee them and their successors a future on the land.
Unfortunately we still have a serious problem, namely, the continued incidence of brucellosis and TB in our livestock herds and this has greatly hampered the progress of agriculture. For almost 20 years farmers have been battling with these diseases and they have cost the Irish taxpayers millions of pounds. The end is not yet in sight. Everyone concerned with the welfare of our national herd should leave no stone unturned to guarantee an end to those diseases. They have wiped out many farms. I know from my own experience of cases where farmers have had clear herds but unfortunately when they bought in additional breeding stock the disease returned. The greatest loser in such a situation is not the taxpayer but the farmer because he is deprived of an income and is not able to borrow money. In many cases the banks or lending institutions have put pressure on the individual farmer to make the repayments and sometimes the lands were put on the market by the lending institutions. That disastrous situation should not be tolerated in the case of disease eradication because the farmer has no control over such matters. He is the loser in such a situation and, therefore, he is very conscious of the need for complete disease eradication.
I am satisfied the Government are intent on eradicating those diseases as quickly as possible. The farmers who suffer grave losses in such cases need more sympathetic compensation arrangements than exist at the moment. It takes them years to get back into business. A form of low interest loans should be made available without any strings attached. I am satisfied this matter is receiveing serious thought from the Government and possibly in the near future there will be a scheme that will go a long way towards solving the needs of the farmers who are in financial difficulties at the moment. There are thousands of farmers in such a situation. They availed of the money that was literally thrown at them between 1976 and 1978 by the lending institutions. Those institutions have decided now to call in the loans but the farmers are not in a position to pay them. As a result there is a crisis in agriculture. I appeal to those lending institutions to adopt the same lines as similar institutions have done in other countries and give the farmers a moratorium. They will have them in the end. They are good customers of all the banks and lending institutions and their successors will continue to deal with them. The banks and lending institutions should look upon them as their best customers and try to deal with them accordingly.
Now is the time for all of us engaged in agriculture to show courage. It is the time for farm leaders to give leadership and tell the Irish people what can be done. There is little use in complaining about a situation unless one can come up with a solution. Thousands are writing in agricultural journals and newspapers about the problems of agriculture. They are campaigning against the Government but they are unable, or incapable, of putting forward an alternative to help solve the serious situation in the farming industry. Those people should direct their attention to that because we must get together to ensure that our greatest industry continues to thrive in the years ahead