asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the losses sustained by farmers in County Cork as a result of attacks of wheat midge during the present year; and, if so, what steps he intends taking to compensate for the losses thus incurred.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Midge Losses.
Mr. Walsh
It is not proposed to compensate wheat growers in respect of losses caused by wheat-midge damage during the current year. The extent of loss arising from attacks of this pest varies from year to year. While it was probably above the average in 1951, it was not more than farmers have to bear in respect of other crops due to the incidence of attacks by pests or to unfavourable weather in the growing or the harvesting seasons.