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Dáil Éireann - Volume 121 - 16 May, 1950 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increase in Price of Feeding Stuffs. Mr. Smith Mr. Smith Mr. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture to what unforeseen cause he attributes the enormous increase in the cost of maize meal and all other feeding stuffs, in view of his pronouncement made at Mountbellew some time ago. Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon: The increase can be attributed to two main factors: (1) The cessation for all practical purposes of exports of maize from the Argentine due to an exceptionally severe crop failure, and (2) the unpredictable effects on the export price of maize of the United States Government's policy of supporting farm prices. Between the first week of November, 1949, and the first week of April, 1950, the average Chicago price for maize increased by approximately 28 cents per bushel. This is equivalent to an increase of £4 per ton in the selling price in this country, despite the existence of stocks amounting to over 1,000,000,000 bushels, most of which is controlled by the Commodity Credit Corporation. As I have already indicated on a number of occasions, it is extremely difficult to forecast the prices or availabilities of imported feeding stuffs. Farmers were, therefore, repeatedly advised to provide for as large a proportion as possible of their feeding requirements for next winter and spring by sowing adequate areas under barley, oats and potatoes. Mr. Smith Mr. Smith 12 Mr. Smith: Does the Minister not now realise the injury which he himself did to the whole feeding position [12] when he made his statement at the agricultural show at Mountbellew last summer telling the farmers all over the country that, as Minister for maize, he was in a position to guarantee to them that it would be available in any quantity and at a stated price? Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon: In September I told the farmers at Mountbellew that the impact of devaluation of sterling on the price of maize would be nil, and that is precisely what has happened. The price of maize has risen by a sum equivalent to the rise in the price of maize in dollars at Chicago, but it has not increased by one penny piece as a consequence of devaluation. Mr. Smith Mr. Smith Mr. Smith: Would the Minister say where is the difference to the farmer whether the price has increased as a result of devaluation or of some other cause, so long as it has, in fact, increased? Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon: Not giving the Deputy a short answer, it is the difference between knowing that what I told them in Mountbellew is correct and saying that it was incorrect, because what one prognosticates at Mountbellew at the end of September last could not conceivably affect the yield of crops which were already reaped and harvested. Mr. Smith Mr. Smith Mr. Smith: Are the farmers to take it that you are still Minister for maize? Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon: Yes. The Deputy is to understand that devaluation had no effect on it. Dáil Éireann 121 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Increase in Price of Feeding Stuffs. Questions 19500516
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