asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will define the requirements of the Tillage Order in the case of farmers having two or more holdings and of farmers who take conacre, and if he will state if such farmers may be permitted to put all or part of their tillage in one holding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tillage Order Requirements.
The requirements of the Tillage Order are defined and explained in Special Leaflet No. 27, a copy of which can be obtained by any occupier on application to the Department of Agriculture. I have sent a copy to the Deputy.
If an occupier has two or more farms he must cultivate at least three-eighths of the total area of arable land comprised in all the farms, including the appropriate wheat quota.
If an occupier arranges for the cultivation of his holding in conacre, such cultivation will, for the purposes of the Tillage Order, be regarded as cultivation by the occupier. Consequently, it cannot be regarded as cultivation by the conacre tenant in respect of his own holding.
Is the Minister aware that a big number of farmers are not familiar with that regulation? Take the case of a farmer who has three farms under his jurisdiction, two of his own and his sister's farm. A tillage inspector wanted to insist that he would put wheat in the outside farm, which was altogether unsuitable for the growing of wheat. This man had already grown his quota on No. 1 farm. Will the Minister take steps to have the information made known generally to the public that, in such cases, if the requisite number of acres are sown on any one farm it will suffice for all the farms that a man may have under his jurisdiction?
It must be clear that the three farms are owned by the person making the claim. Sometimes we have cases where an occupier claims that he is working a farm for a relative, such as a sister. We do not accept that.
This man was doing this long before the war broke out.
In that case it would be accepted.
I hope that information will be made known generally to the public.