asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the grave disappointment and discontent amongst oat and barley growers of the country at the price recently fixed by representatives of maize meal millers of Éire, the Department of Supplies, Grain Importers (Éire) Limited, and his Department for the above-mentioned cereals; if he is aware of the fact that in the opinion of the producers the price mentioned does not cover the cost of production; and whether he will take immediate steps to have the price of these cereals increased, or have the price of the admixture brought to an economic level.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oats and Barley Prices.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the prices which maize millers have agreed to pay for oats and barley do not cover the cost of production, and if he is prepared to take steps to have those prices increased.
I will reply to questions Nos. 27 and 28 together. I am aware of some dissatisfaction on the part of producers with the prices to be offered by maize millers for oats and barley intended for inclusion in a maize meal mixture, but I cannot agree with the view that the prices do not cover the costs of production. I am satisfied that if higher prices were paid the resultant maize meal mixture could not be sold at prices which would be economic to the feeders purchasing it. I, therefore, do not, propose to take steps to have the prices agreed upon increased. In view of the present difficulties in procuring imported feeding stuffs, I would strongly advise that home-grown cereals should be retained by growers to a far greater extent than hitherto for consumption on their farms.
I should like to ask the Minister if he is aware that in large areas in the country the production of oats is as essential to the economic life of the country as the production of any other cereal?
That is right.
Is the Minister aware that the price fixed does not cover the cost of production, and does he know that these people have demand notes for rates and annuities and shop bills of various kinds? If the Minister is not prepared to reduce the price of the admixture, why is it he will not help these oat growers? The barley producers in the early part of the season got a good price and wheat producers also got a guaranteed price, but the majority of cereal growers are oat producers and they are getting nothing in the way of encouragement. Would the Minister not give reconsideration to the matter, or at least consult them?
It is quite true, as the Deputy says, that certain farmers cannot grow cereal crops successfully except oats. A small number of these market their oats. There is only a very small percentage of oats marketed at all. The bulk of it is used at home. The difficulty is that if the oats is to be sold to people who feed animals it must be sold at an economic price. If we take that into consideration, it is a limiting factor on what the growers get.
What about the price of oatmeal?
The purchasers should get it at an economic price as well. We are not getting the admixture at an economic price.
Will the Minister address his attention to the dilemma of oats at 8/- per cwt. and oatmeal and oat flakes at £23 per ton—8/- for oats and 23/- for flaked oats? Where is the difference there? These are the prices for these two commodities at present. The oat flakes price is fixed by the milling ring, I should add, which the Minister was responsible for establishing in this country.