asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the abnormally low yields of wheat and barley that are general throughout the country this harvest, representing approximately 40 per cent. of normal yields and inadequate to meet production costs; and if, in order to assist farmers in their financial loss on both cereals, he will consider raising the guaranteed prices for this year's crops so that the diminution in returns will be offset to some extent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat and Barley Prices.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the unusually low yield of wheat of the current harvest, arising from severe weather conditions and unsatisfactory seed; and whether, in view of the losses sustained by farmers from two successive bad harvests, he will increase the price of wheat, at least to a figure sufficient to meet the cost of production.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that, at the present price, wheat growing is uneconomic to farmers; and if it is his intention to remove the compulsion on growing wheat and to fix a price for wheat which will offer an incentive to increased acreage by voluntary effort.
asked the Minister for Agriculture when the policy of the Government in regard to tillage and the prices of agricultural produce, during the year 1948, will be made public; and whether he is aware that it is a matter of great importance to the farming community that they be made aware, at the earliest possible date, of the demands which will be made on their resources next year.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give detailed costings of the sowing and harvesting operations, on the basis of which the present price for corn crops was fixed; and whether, if those figures do not take cognisance of the increase of 30/- a hundredweight in the price of binder twine, the increase in agricultural wages, and the fact that, this year, the yield of crops has been seriously reduced by an exceptionally heavy growth of corn-marigolds and vetches, he will increase the prices now to a figure which will meet the costs of production.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the very poor yield from this year's wheat crop; and if he is prepared to increase the price of wheat and other grain crops so as to compensate the farmers for their losses.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that this year there is a very low yield from wheat; that several wheat growers have suffered losses of a serious nature; if he will consider providing some means whereby farmers will receive financial help to assist them in view of this state of affairs; and if he will consider increasing, at this stage, the price payable for wheat.
As Questions Nos. 58 to 64 relate to the same subject, I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chómhairle, to take them together.
It is not proposed to alter the prices, already fixed, for wheat and barley of the 1947 crop. It is hoped to make an early announcement of the prices for wheat and barley of the 1948 crops, and of the tillage quotas to be fixed for the 1947-48 season.
The Minister did not advert to the first part of my question as to whether he is aware of the abnormally low yields obtained this year?
Yes.
And he is not prepared to consider the financial difficulties which will arise as a result?
No.
And why?
Because I am not.
Then the attitude of the Minister is that the farmers can go to the devil?
The attitude of the Minister, as I have said already, is an attitude which will be understood perfectly by the farmers, but the Minister realises that the techniques of farmers and farmers' representatives is to complain about 1946 when in fact they have their eyes on 1947.
Does the Minister not appreciate that this is a problem arising out of compultion and that in a great many cases the crop is grown in circumstances in which it is almost impossible to make it remunerative? That applies in a particular way this year, because all over the country, as the Minister has admitted, there are very low yields, and surely the Minister must take that into account.
The Minister is aware of low yields from other crops which are of importance to the farmer, and he knows that the farmers' technique is to complain about 1946 when they have, as I know Deputy Hughes and Deputy Corry have, their eyes on the price likely to be fixed for 1947-48.
Will wheat be compulsory next year?
I will tell you that in the next few days.