asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) to what extent and at what stage of growth the disease known as Virus Yellows has affected this year's beet crop; (b) what pathological examination has been given to the problem; (c) how is it likely to affect the yield and sugar content; (d) whether the incidence of the disease is greater in the beet seed and mangold seed growing areas, and whether the disease has been over-wintered on the stecklings; (e) if it is intended to confine the raising of stecklings to aphis-free areas; (f) what precautions his Department propose to take to control the spread of the infection and reduce the incidence of the disease; and (g) whether he intends to advise Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta, to employ a whole-time pathologist to deal with crop diseases in sugar beet.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beet Crop Disease.
The yellowing of foliage of the sugar beet crop which was noticeable in many cases this season as early as the beginning of July was partly due to the disease known as Virus Yellows, but there is little doubt that it was also to some extent due to mineral deficiencies in the soil arising from the scarcity of certain fertilisers. It is not possible at this stage to estimate precisely the effect of the disease on the yield and sugar content of the crops affected or to come to definite conclusions on the points mentioned in the Deputy's question, though the indications are that the incidence of the disease was greater in the immediate neighbourhood of seed crops of beet and mangold.
Officers of my Department and of the Plant Pathology Department of University College, Dublin, have been examining the position in conjunction with Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta, with a view to the adoption of the most suitable precautionary measures against future incidence of the disease.
Have they arrived at any decision in the matter, and when will we hear about it?
I would not say that they have come to any definite decision yet.