asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that there is considerable anxiety amongst growers of barley in regard to the price of next season's crop and particularly of that portion not grown under contract; and, if so, whether he intends to take any action to allay this anxiety.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Barley Crop.
Farmers who grow barley without a contract from the maltster this year will do so in the knowledge that unless some industrial user buys it outside Guinness's contracts, his only certain method of cashing his crop is to feed it to live stock. It is possible that there will be a substantial demand for malting barley of high quality outside Guinness's contract, but the only safe and certain market is live stock and live-stock products.
Does the Minister agree that, for the farmer who requires a safe cash crop, his only policy now is to grow more wheat?
It depends entirely on what the Deputy defines as a cash crop. I hope, as I know the Deputy hopes, the farmer will grow the most profitable crop for himself, his family and the nation, and on that basis there is a wide variety to choose from.