asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the steps, if any, his Department will take to increase the home production of feeding barley.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Feeding Barley Production.
62.
The price likely to be obtainable for feeding barley of this year's crop should be an adequate incentive for farmers to increase the acreage under that crop.
Does the Minister think on the information available that there will be an increase on last year's price?
They are offering 4 per cent in the EEC.
63.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the stocks of feeding barley available at 31st December, 1973.
While final figures are not yet available, it is estimated that approximately 215,000 tonnes of feeding barley were available at the 31st December, 1973.
The Minister said that we were almost self-sufficient in the production of barley. The grain merchants made excess profits by a massive increase in the price of feeding grain during the past month or so. What the growers got £40 or £50 a ton for is now selling to the compounders and farmers at £70 a ton and in some cases higher.
It is difficult to reconcile all the reports one gets about this. I know barley is available at £65 a ton in Dublin. I have been told people are paying £75 a ton but I cannot confirm that. It was confirmed to me yesterday by one supplier that he is prepared to supply at £65 a ton.
There is an excessive profit even at £75 a ton. I have not heard of a price of £65 for barley grain for some time.
There is no course open to me to prevent this sort of thing happening. These people have the export market open to them. Prices outside are as high as that. These prices are available to them. It is a question of competition.
Is the Minister aware that the people who have to bear the brunt of those massive increases are the small producers of pigs we talked so much about today who are almost being put out of business?
I am anxious to help the Deputy but I have no power to intervene.
The Grain Board.