asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why the net volume of agricultural output has fallen by 0.5 per cent over the past three years while at the same time inputs of farm materials (fertiliser, animal feed, etc.) rose by 14.7 per cent; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Output.
46.
While the increase in the volume of purchased inputs resulted in an increase in gross agricultural output the fact that the former was relatively greater has resulted in the slight decline in net output in 1970 as compared with 1968 which, it will be recalled, was an exceptionally good year for agriculture.
A feature of agriculture is that as it develops it becomes more a commercial business involving a higher level of usage of purchased inputs. In this country over the past decade the volume of inputs arising from outside the farm has more than doubled. This is due to the reduction in farm labour utilisation, less farm produced feeding stuffs and increased use of fertilisers.
Another long answer.
This development points to the need for good farm management involving proper control in the use of inputs to ensure good returns.
Would the Minister not agree that there is a prima facie case on these figures that farmers are not getting value from their inputs to their farms such as fertilisers and animal feeds in terms of increased output?
That thesis would not stand up to any detailed examination. What it more readily demonstrates is that the input expenditure and the outlay by farmers on fertilisers and other inputs has greatly increased and that the investment of capital by farmers in their own enterprises has jumped ahead very considerably. This has upset the old relativities and, generally speaking, this is a good thing because capital is being invested in farming.
If the output has fallen, how can this be said to be the case?
The output has fallen by one half per cent on what the Deputy and I and every other person familiar with the facts would agree was a record year, 1968.
Last year was just as good.
No, it was not.
Bord na Móna did a lot better last year than in 1968.
Bord na Móna is not under the aegis of the Department.
It is a form of farming. Turf cutting was always included in agriculture.