Avril Doyle
Question:152 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the criteria he will use to assess applications for aid from beet and tillage farmers for rain damage to crops in 1993.
Written Answers. - Rain Damage to Crops.
Adverse weather conditions must be regarded as a normal risk inherent in tillage production. Cereals yield in general were lower than normal in 1993 with losses of varying degrees being experienced. However, these losses were substantially offset by higher than expected prices and by area aid payments amounting to almost £46 million.
The need for assistance for cereal producers has been further assessed by my Department. I am satisfied that the overall scale of the problem is not sufficient to warrant financial assistance even if funding were available. While there were some localised losses incurred in sugar beet the position does not warrant compensation because overall returns were satisfactory.