asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that farmers in County Mayo are experiencing difficulties in getting supplies of EC grain; and if he will investigate the matter.
Written Answers. - Feed Voucher Scheme.
18.
Presumably the Deputy is referring to the EC cheap intervention grain being made available under the feed voucher scheme. Under the scheme it is not the intention that farmers should purchase the EC grain with their "grain" voucher. Instead, they negotiate a value for their entitlement to such grain with their merchants who supply them with feeding stuffs to that amount. The merchants can then either draw grain direct from an intervention store or else trade on the voucher.
Traders have no difficulty in getting supplies of this grain on foot of vouchers presented. The Department of Agriculture has already allocated 81,000 tonnes and there is still a balance of around 44,000 tonnes available.