asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that many small landholders having no cattle will be forced to sell their corn, and that their land has been so worn out through starvation of farmyard manure that it is not strong enough to grow wheat; and whether, under these circumstances, he proposes to guarantee a price for next year's oats crop.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Guaranteed Price for Oats.
As to the first part of the question. I infer that the small landholders to whom the Deputy refers are those who have hitherto done no tillage and have let all their lands for grazing. I am aware that some such occupiers have so misused their holdings but, in common with those who have larger farms and are similarly circumstanced, they will now be required to cultivate the prescribed portion of their lands or to arrange for the cultivation thereof. The choice of tillage crop will, however, be left to their discretion.
As to the latter part of the question, it is not proposed to guarantee a price for oats inasmuch as the great bulk of that crop is not sold off the farms but is used as feeding stuff for the production of animal products for which remunerative returns are to be anticipated.
The Minister is wrongly advised in reference to that.
I am always open to advice.
The information is wrong.