andMr. Ormonde asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the uncertainty of seed assemblers and grain merchants as to the quantity of seed to be reserved from the present harvest; and, if so, whether he intends, especially in this time of possible emergency, to follow the practice of giving a direction as to the quantity required.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Harvest Seed Reservation.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what arrangements are being made by his Department to have seed wheat assembled from the 1948 crop.
I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
As already announced, the price for wheat of this year's crop and the four succeeding crops, has been guaranteed at 62/6 per barrel. Unless exceptional circumstances obtain there will be no compulsory wheat growing next season. The acreage of wheat sown in 1949 will, therefore, depend on the farmers themselves.
Seed assemblers generally should be in a position to estimate the quantity of seed needed to meet the requirements of their usual customers, and unless emergency conditions render mandatory instructions necessary, it is not proposed to instruct them in the ordinary running of their own business.
It is anticipated that requirements of seed wheat will be met from home-produced stocks, together with the quantity of commercial seed made available consequent on the recent trade agreement with Great Britain, and such supplies as may be secured from Scandinavia.