HC Deb 15 February 1967 vol 741 cc601-2
17. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual tonnage of lime in all forms used on farms for the last four years; and if he will make a statement on present trends.

36. Mr. Henry Clark

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has given consideration to the sharp fall in the use of lime by farmers both before and since the recent cut in subsidy rates; and what steps he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

Mr. John Mackie

United Kingdom farmers were paid subsidy on 5.6 million tons of lime in 1963, 5.2 million tons in 1964, 5.9 million tons in 1965 and just over 5 million tons in 1966. Liming of land normally takes place at intervals of some three to four years or more, and the total application in any one year will be influenced by climatic and other conditions. I regard the amount of lime used over the last four years as being in total adequate for soil needs in that period. The importance of liming and the maintenance of soil fertility, I am sure, are well understood by farmers who, of course, receive the practical encouragement of a subsidy which on average at present rates meets nearly half their costs.

Mr. Mills

Does this not show that there is an alarming trend in lime application, which is one million tons down this year? Is this not also true of fertiliser? Does it not show that farmers are having to rob the soil of fertility in not using this lime?

Mr. Mackie

The quick answer is, "No". Liming varies over the years. In the past, it has been used to bring up the lime quantity of the soil, and present liming is to maintain it. The amount used does vary from year to year—it was 5.9 million tons in 1965 and only 5.2 million tons the year before. The hon. Gentleman will see the variation there. I am afraid that his point is not very well taken.

Mr. Henry Clark

But liming is a long-term policy and full action in the soil does not take place for several years. Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that the present period of restricted profits is the very worst time to cut the lime subsidy? Without it, the farmer has every incentive to cut out lime for a year or two to try and get a little profit.

Mr. Mackie

I do not necessarily agree. I know that lime naturally takes a few years to operate but the figures show that there is no real decrease in liming. [HON. MEMBERS: "25 per cent."] I do not agree that the figures show that there has been a real decrease in liming.

Mr. Stodart

Does not the hon. Gentleman manage to see the coincidence at least? May a drop in the use of lime of between 15 and 25 per cent., together with a drop in the use of fertilisers in the same year, not have something to do with the present financial stringency, in that people are hedging on these purchases?

Mr. Mackie

I never had a great belief in coincidences.