asked the Minister for Agriculture, in the light of the findings of the recent Agricultural Institute survey that income from dry stock production is on average only half the income from dairying, the steps he plans to take to bring income from dry stock production into line with the returns from dairying, in view of the introduction of the super-levy.
Written Answers. - Dry Stock Production.
790.
The Agricultural Institute in their most recent farm management survey point out that the results for 1983 once again reflect the unintensive nature of the dry stock system of farming in Ireland. The level of income from dry stock production is essentially determined by the level of efficiency and intensive nature of the enterprise adopted by the farmer himself.
The Government's policy for improving farm incomes and promoting development in the agriculture sector in general is set out in the National Economic and Social Plan —Building on Reality. It recognises that the main emphasis for future development in agriculture must be in the beef sector and to support such development the Government are providing a sum of £11 million in the year commencing 1 January 1986 to increase the headage grants on beef cows under the disadvantaged areas scheme from the present level of £32 to £70 per cow. This substantial increase in the level of grant will help greatly to improve returns from dry stock production in the disadvantaged areas where over three-quarters of beef cow herds in the country are located.