asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the continued necessity for intensified wheat-sowing on lands which are in many cases already exhausted from continuous corn crops without proper rotation, he will consider a scheme to compensate farmers for the inevitable damage to these lands, so that when the present emergency is over, they may be enabled to restore fertility to the soil.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compensation for Damage to Land.
It is only natural that owing to the necessity for intensive food production during the emergency when artificial fertilisers were in short supply, fertility of the soil has been impaired to some extent. I am satisfied, however, that where measures, recommended by my Department, to maintain fertility at a reasonable level have been adopted by farmers and where the ordinary rules of good husbandry have been followed, no serious damage has been caused.
I would further remind the Deputy that under the Fertiliser Credits (Wheat) Scheme, which has been in operation during the past few seasons, means are being provided which will materially assist in restoring such fertility as has been lost through intensive cropping during emergency years without adequate supplies of fertilisers.