asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will say whether he has received any report from county agricultural instructors as to the cause of the late ripening of a number of grain crops in the midland counties: and, if not, if he will have the matter examined and reported on.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ripening of Grain Crops.
Reports have been received from agricultural instructors in midland counties indicating that in some instances the ripening of grain crops was retarded. Late ripening, which was not reported to be general, was attributed to a variety of causes or to a combination of these, such as lateness of sowing, lateness of locality, deficiency of sunshine during the months of July and August and unseasonable weather conditions generally.
Will the Minister say what caused the late sowing in these districts? Was it lack of equipment?
I think it was due to the very extensive programme of tillage.
And inefficient equipment.