asked the Minister for Agriculture, if in order to prevent a further decline in pig production, he will take such steps as he may deem necessary to secure an increase in the prices fixed for pigs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Prices.
This question has been carefully reviewed by the Pigs and Bacon Commission and I am satisfied that the increased prices which they brought into operation on the 1st October last are reasonable having regard to all the relevant circumstances.
Is the Minister not aware that the fact that prices are so low has resulted in the production of pigs having declined by more than 50 per cent., and that if the present stocks of pigs are fattened there will probably be a further marked decline in the pig population of this country? There is no doubt about that, and I think the Minister must be aware of it.
Does the Minister at all realise the difficulties of the situation, or how does he think that pigs can be produced at all when barley cannot be ground?
Ground?
Yes. The merchants in my town say that they cannot grind either oats or barley to sell to the farmers, and how does the Minister think that pig production can go on under these circumstances?
That is undoubtedly true. Is the Minister aware of it?
Well, I think we are talking about different things here. I do not think the decline in pigs is due to what Deputy Cogan said. I think everybody will agree that it is due to the scarcity of feeding stuffs during the past six or seven months. Farmers who produce their own feeding stuffs can use their oats or barley, or their own potatoes can be used for feeding pigs, and the present prices are reasonable, but it is not possible to guarantee to any farmer feeding stuffs grown by somebody else.
Is the Minister aware that the prices now paid will regulate the number of pigs available in the spring, and that usually the spring and summer is the time when there is a shortage? Unless the present price is increased, it will have a serious effect on the number of pigs.
The Deputy is surely aware of the price of small pigs at the present time, and that it has not been so high for years.
Going back to Deputy Curran's question, is the Minister aware that barley and oats cannot be ground in the mills? I can give the Minister the name of one mill where the lofts are full of oats and the Minister will not permit the miller to move the oats out of the lofts into the mill.
I think the Deputy is speaking of a miller who wants to mill for sale.
Yes.
That is right, but millers who mill on commission, that is for the farmer's own use, can carry on and there is nothing to prevent them doing so, but while the present emergency lasts, and until we are absolutely sure that the amount of food for human consumption is sufficient, we cannot permit the use of barley for stock feeding.
Is it the position that bacon cannot be produced except from what grows on a particular individual farmer's land?
I say that there is no guarantee to any farmer that he can buy feeding stuffs.
Well, that amounts to the same thing. Where the farmer is depending on fattening pigs in the way we are accustomed to in this country, I do not think he can fatten them at all.
Not on imported feeding stuffs.
I am not talking about imported feeding stuffs, but about our own feeding stuffs, and millers are not allowed to grind either oats or barley for sale.
That is the position.
And then he cannot fatten them except on what is grown on his own individual farm.
Is the Minister not aware that barley and potatoes are an uneconomic proposition for pigs?
Not at present prices.
Barley and potatoes are not a proper ration for pigs.
The Deputy is aware that for generations in County Wexford they fed pigs on barley and potatoes.
That is not true.
Of course it is true.
You cannot fatten pigs on barley and potatoes.