I had a discussion this morning on the question of grain. The position is that barley production would go down if the EEC price structure was applied. The reduction in price would be about £8 per ton. This would be shocking for farmers. Last harvest, farmers were paid £88.44 at 20 per cent moisture. If the price this year drops by £8 a ton, there will not be the incentive to grow barley. A similar situation applies to wheat. Housewives baking bread use a lot of Irish wheat or French wheat—what is known as soft wheat. It makes very good bread, better than we get from the bakers. Unfortunately, bakers use Manitoba wheat which attracts a tariff of £80 to £90.
Tapioca is replacing barley in animal rations and it does not vary in price. Last year, the price of barley increased progressively by £2.35 per month, the tapioca was brought in and beat barley on price as animal feed—a better energy-giving feed. I suggest that we try to get the EEC to agree that for the first six months barley would be used as animal feed and then let in tapioca. Where I live, barley is highly prized as it is in Cavan and Monaghan.