HC Deb 15 March 1937 vol 321 cc1633-4
58. Mr. De Chair

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether agricultural land in Great Britain is in general in as good a state of fertility as in 1914?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the yields of the principal crops during the last five years compared with the five years ended 1914. With the exception of turnips and swedes, the average yields of the arable crops are higher than they were before the War; the average yield

Statement showing the average yield per acre of the principal Corn and Root Crops and Hay in each of the years 1910–1914 and 1932–1936 and the quinquennial average for each of these periods for Great Britain.
Crops, etc. 1910. 1911. 1912. 1913. 1914. Average 1910–14.
Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt.
Wheat … … 16.6 18.6 15.5 17.6 18.3 17.3
Barley … … 15.5 15.3 14.5 16.0 I6.1 15.6
Oats … … 14.3 13.8 12.3 13.6 14.3 13.7
Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons.
Potatoes … … 6.4 6.7 5.2 6.5 6.6 6.3
Mangolds … … 21.1 16.5 18.1 18.1 18.4 18.4
Turnips and Swedes … 16.4 10.5 13.4 13.6 13.4 13.5
Seeds Hay … … 31.5 25.2 27.0 32.1 28.0 28.8
Meadow Hay … … 25.0 18.3 24.8 25.3 21.8 23.0
Crops, etc. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936. Average 1932–36.
Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt.
Wheat … … 17.4 19.2 20.0 18.6 16.4 18.3
Barley … … 16.2 17.0 17.1 16.9 16.4 16.7
Oats … … 16.3 16.3 15.9 16.2 15.3 l6.0
Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons.
Potatoes … … 6.8 6.8 7.1 6.3 6.5 6.7
Mangolds … … 18.9 17.5 19.3 18.3 19.1 18.6
Turnips and Swedes … 14.4 12.1 10.5 12.2 14.5 12.7
Seeds Hay … … 29.3 26.3 26.5 27.9 25.9 27.2
Meadow Hay … … 20.9 18.4 17.7 21.2 20.6 19.8
Mr. W. S. Morrison

As the answer includes a table of figures, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

of hay, on the other hand, is less. It is impossible to say to what extent these differences of yield are due to the difference of weather conditions between the two periods.

Mr. De Chair

Is the Department taking steps to find out what is the cause of the difference, as this is a very important matter?

Mr. Morrison

Yes, the matter is constantly under review.

Following is the statement: