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Dáil Éireann - Volume 91 - 18 November, 1943

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Sligo Oat Crop Disease.

Mr. Roddy asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is now in a position to give the result of Professor McKay's investigations into the unusual type of disease which appeared in oat crops in the Kilglass and Castleconnor districts in County Sligo this year; and, if so, whether this information will be communicated to the farmers concerned.

Mr. Roddy asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that a number of farmers in the Kilglass and Castleconnor areas of County Sligo are without oats for either feeding or seeding purposes owing to the ravages of an unusual and unknown type of disease in their oat crops, and if he is prepared to compensate or otherwise recompense them for their grave losses.

Minister for Agriculture (Dr. Ryan): I propose to answer these two questions together. The disease in question has been identified as crown rust. The nature and cause of this disease, as well as the measures that should be taken to prevent a recurrence, were fully set out in a communication that has been sent to a farmer in the Kilglass area who drew the Department's attention to the matter. The agricultural [2346] instructor for the district has also been informed.

From the information at my disposal it appears that crown rust appeared this year on about 30 farms in the Kilglass and Castleconnor districts, but that the whole of the oat crop did not appear to be affected in any case. The farmers concerned should not, therefore, be without oats for feeding or seed purposes. If, however, these farmers wish to replace their own oats with oats more suitable for seed purposes, such seed may, it is understood, be procured in the adjoining areas of Easky and Ballina. There are no funds available in my Department out of which compensation could be paid to farmers whose crops have been affected by disease.

Mr. Roddy: Is the Minister aware that officials of his Department visited this area, and instructed these farmers to hold the straw and grain until they would be further advised as to how to dispose of them? I understood from the reply, that only one farmer was communicated with. Does the Minister not propose to send a similar communication to all the farmers concerned?

Dr. Ryan: Only one farmer communicated with my Department, and he got full instructions. The agricultural instructor also got a communication on the matter.

Mr. Roddy: These farmers are still awaiting instructions from the Department as to how to dispose of their straw and grain. At the time these investigations were made the inspector apparently did not know what the nature of the disease was——

Dr. Ryan: It was not identified at the time.

Mr. Roddy: ——until samples of the straw and grain were taken to the laboratory at Glasnevin and examined, and these farmers are still awaiting instructions from the Department as to how to dispose of the grain and straw.

Mr. Dillon: I think Deputy Roddy is in a difficulty here, because it seems [2347] that the obvious course to pursue, inasmuch as this disease is principally located in County Sligo, is for the Minister to communicate whatever message he wishes to communicate through the local Press to the farmers of the district. Would the Minister consider publishing some kind of notice stating that the disease has been identified and that the only effective means of eliminating it is the destruction of the buck thorn and give the farmers instructions how the diseased crop should be disposed of? Surely it is desirable to spread that information broadcast in the area.

Dr. Ryan: I assumed that the county instructor paid a visit to each individual farmer and told him what to do. I want to say, in case what Deputy Dillon has said might be published, that there is no buck thorn growing in Sligo.

Mr. Dillon: I understood you could not have rust in the absence of buck thorn.

Dr. Ryan: It can also be conveyed by the corn itself; in other words where the corn has shelled upon the ground and grown up in the winter the disease can be continued in that way.

Mr. Hughes: Is this yellow rust?

Dr. Ryan: Crown rust.

Mr. Roddy: Would the Minister not consider giving instructions to his officials to make provision for these farmers to be supplied with free seed, at least for next season's crop?

Dr. Ryan: I am sure the county instructor will do everything possible to facilitate them in getting seed. If there is a danger that the farmers are not getting sufficient information on the matter, I will see that they get it. I am sure the county instructor will see to that.

Mr. Roddy: The county instructor is awaiting instructions from the Minister's Department.

[2348] Dr. Ryan: Then I will see about it.

Mr. Fitzgerald-Kenney: If this is an infectious disease, is there not a danger of its spreading, and what steps are being taken to prevent that?

Dr. Ryan: I do not think you can call it an infectious disease. It can only be spread by the grain in that district going into other areas. It is not wind-borne.

Mr. Hughes: Is it not inevitable that a certain amount of shelling has occurred, and has the Minister considered the necessity for advising these farmers not to sow oats in these fields next season?

Dr. Ryan: I presume they have had that advice from the county instructor, but I will make sure of that. If they could ensure that there would be no growth of oats in the same land in the winter by an early ploughing, they would be all right.

Mr. Dillon: Would it not be wise to publish these facts?

Mr. Roddy: Is it safe to sow seed grain in these fields again?

Dr. Ryan: It would not be safe to sow seeds that are affected.

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