asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is prepared to take immediate steps to procure seed wheat for the 1943-44 sowing season, as existing seed is worn out and very mixed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seed Wheat Supplies.
I do not agree with the Deputy's suggestion that our seed wheat is worn out. Growers who persist in using seed from their own crops, which has not been cleaned and may have been stored under unsuitable conditions, with resulting low germination, cannot expect to get good results. Each year there have been ample stocks of clean seed of high germination available to growers who are prepared to purchase their seed at prices sufficiently high to pay for the services of the seed assemblers. I have no doubt that sufficient stocks will be available again in the coming season. There is no possibility of procuring stocks from outside sources.
Will the Minister take any steps to secure a quantity of imported seed wheat and allocate it to areas where it will be kept separate from other seed?
I am afraid it will not be possible to import seed wheat.