asked the Minister for Agriculture whether representations have been made to him as to the surplus oats remaining on the hands of farmers and grain merchants from previous years and as to the necessity of providing a bounty on the export of oats and, if so, if a decision will be expedited in the matter before this year's crop comes on the market or otherwise it will be unsaleable.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Surplus Oats.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, although the scheme to create a market for home-grown grain was applied on the 12th October last, it did not come into effective operation until January, owing to the forestalling action of certain millers in manufacturing and selling in advance of that date large surplus stocks of ordinary maize meal, which glutted the market until after Christmas. During the completed six months in which the scheme has been in effective operation it has effected the absorption of about 25,000 tons of the surplus produce of last season's crops of barley and oats. There now remains an unexhausted surplus of about 20,000 tons of oats which is principally in the hands of merchants. The total surplus from last year's crops amounted, therefore, to 45,000 tons.
Taking into account the increased acreages under both of these crops in the present year, and assuming a yield as satisfactory as 1932, it is estimated that the surplus of barley and oats from the new acreage will be in the neighbourhood of 32,000 tons, and that the total surplus from old and new acreage will be approximately 77,000 tons.
It will, therefore, be necessary to find an outlet during the remaining two months of this season and the whole of next season for a quantity of home-grown grain equivalent to the existing surplus of 20,000 tons and the whole of next year's surplus of 77,000 tons, or 97,000 tons in all.
There is some reason to hope that the consumption of the mixed meal may increase next season—but even assuming that it does not rise above the present comparatively low level, it is estimated that by increasing the proportion of home-grown grain to be incorporated in the mixture to 25 per cent. by weight of the resultant meal, an outlet will be provided for, approximately, 100,000 tons of the home-grown grain, or rather more than the entire surplus now envisaged. An order to this effect was signed on the 21st instant and came into force yesterday.
Growers need not, therefore, in my opinion, fear that their grain will be left on their hands, or that the price will be unduly depressed.