asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that basic slag is ground in a County Sligo mill which is giving considerable employment; that this mill is unfairly handicapped in its trading by the subsidy which has been given only on Semsol; and if he will now give a subsidy on basic slag equivalent to that given on Semsol.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Subsidy on Basic Slag.
I am aware that basic slag is ground in a factory in County Sligo, but it has not been found practicable to bring basic slag, whether imported or home-ground, within the scope of the scheme for enabling farmers to obtain certain fertilisers at reduced prices.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, can he state why it was not found practicable?
I stated it very fully in a recent debate here.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, my recollection of what he stated in the recent debate was that it was too dear. Has the Minister adverted to the soluble phosphate content of high grade basic slag such as is milled in Sligo, and the soluble phosphate content of Semsol, because if he does he will find, I think, that the soluble phosphate content of high grade basic slag is 30 to 32 where the total phosphate content is 40, whereas the soluble phosphate content of Semsol is only about 16 per cent. In those circumstances, does it appear that basic slag is dear as compared with Semsol?
I do not think the Deputy has stated the case correctly. In any case, that question was very fully discussed here in a recent debate.
I am aware that it was discussed but was the Minister's attention then directed to the fact that there was being produced in an Irish factory a phosphatic manure quite as cheap as Semsol if you look not at the bulk price but at the price of the units of soluble phosphate? Would the Minister look into the question?
It is not nearly so cheap, on the soluble phosphate content.
Can the Minister recall what the soluble phosphate content of Semsol is? Is it not 16 per cent.?
It is 16 per cent. immediately, but 36 or 38 per cent, eventually.
Will the Minister look into this matter again, because I believe that if he does he will find that the slag manufactured in Sligo has as useful a soluble phosphate content, price for price, as Semsol?
Does the Minister realise that slag has a definite advantage over phosphates in one respect, that it is equal to its own weight in lime? Does the Minister realise that that particular quality of slag is very useful for sour land? It has a definite advantage over phosphates.
Yes, but certainly the amount of lime in basic slag would not be equal to the difference in price.
It is equal to its own weight.
Does the Minister realise that if he persists in his present decision he will close the factory in Sligo, which is giving valuable employment and has been giving employment for years, because nobody can compete with slag against subsidised Semsol?
Does the Minister realise that if a farmer applies half a ton of slag to an acre of land it means he has applied half a ton of lime as well as half a ton of manure? In fact that is what it means. Does the Minister realise the effect it has on the nitrogen already in the soil?
I quite realise the properties of slag as regards lime, and the properties of slag as regards soluble phosphates and insoluble phosphates. Taking all those into account, slag is much dearer than Semsol or any other phosphate manure. That does not say we may not examine the position very fully before next season. Nothing could be done this year in any case.