asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food arising out of the national farm survey on farmers' income, if he will make a statement on the differential in the gross margin between milk and beef and between milk and cereals.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Produce Price Differentiations
41.
There has always been a degree of difference in the gross margins as between milk on the one hand and beef and cereals on the other. As well as the prices of inputs and outputs, the average size of enterprises and the average level of efficiency in each of the sectors are among the most important of the factors determining gross margins. I am confident that there is a viable future for the efficient producer in each of the three sectors.