asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state: (a) the quantities of wheat assembled to date for seed purposes distinguishing as to varieties and pedigree stocks and stocks grown from pedigree seed last season; (b) the corresponding quantities for last season; (c) what generally is the condition and quality of assembled stocks; and (d) whether they are sufficient for our requirements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seed Wheat.
The total quantities of seed wheat, including pedigree seed wheat and the produce of pedigree seed distributed last year, which have been assembled by authorised seed wheat assemblers to date are approximately 35,000 barrels of winter varieties and 414,000 barrels of spring varieties as compared with 53,000 barrels and 419,000 barrels respectively assembled at the same time last year — a net decrease of 23,000 barrels. Definite particulars in regard to varieties are not yet available, but it may be assumed that winter varieties consist largely of Queen Wilhelmina and Pajbjerg and spring varieties mainly of Atle.
The quantities of pedigree seed wheat assembled to date are, approximately, 3,800 barrels of winter varieties and 19,000 barrels of spring varieties as compared with 7,000 barrels and 31,000 barrels respectively, assembled at the corresponding date last year. It is not possible to indicate what quantity of the produce of pedigree seed wheat distributed last season has been assembled this season.
To guard against a possible shortage towards the end of the season steps have been taken with the co-operation of the Irish Flour Millers' Association to reserve a quantity of milling wheat of sufficiently high germination. This wheat consists, in the main, of the variety Atle, but may contain an admixture of some other spring types. If used, however, it must be accepted as mixed wheat, but only in the event of a shortage of other seed will it be released.
As regards (c) and (d) of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given on the 22nd January to Deputy Heskin.
Are we to take it that the seed referred to is seed drawn from stocks that were assembled for milling purposes?
Yes.
Did I understand the Minister correctly to say that there is yet no return of the seed assembled from the pedigree stocks of last year?
That is correct.
And that they will be available in the near future?
I cannot say.
Is there any distinction being made? Is that seed not being kept apart from the normal commercial seed?
I must confess that I do not know what the practice is.
The Minister surely appreciates the importance of having that assembled separately.
Yes, I am sure that is being done.
If it has not been done, is it not extraordinary? The Minister said he did not know what the practice was.
What I meant was the practice seems to be successful. The particulars are not available yet in relation to last year's distribution.
The Minister must appreciate that it could not be the practice in the past because this is the first year it occurred. The pedigree seed was only available last year.
It has been available for several years.
Not in the way it was last year.
A quantity was.