§ Lieut.-Colonel Heneageasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of difficulties which farmers have experienced in carrying out ploughing operations under the unfavourable weather conditions of the past winter, it is proposed 1516W to extend the period during which the ploughing grants of £2 per acre are payable?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithYes, Sir. In view of the difficulties to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, the Government have decided to extend the grant period from 31st March to 30th April, so as to enable farmers to carry out the programme of grassland ploughing in the United Kingdom for the 1940 harvest, which, but for weather conditions, would have been completed by 31st March. The extension will also apply to grasslands of one acre or more broken up for allotments.
There will also be a special extension to 15th May, 1940, to enable additional grasslands to be ploughed up for the cultivation this year of root and fodder crops. Steps will be taken to ensure that the grant is not paid in respect of lands which could reasonably have been ploughed before 30th April.
An announcement will be made later concerning the ploughing up of grassland for the 1941 harvest. In the meantime, the extension to 15th May will, of course, apply to cases where, with the approval of the County War Agricultural Executive Committee, seven year grasslands are broken up for re-seeding to grass or for summer fallowing (or sowing to an approved catch crop) in preparation for a crop for the 1941 harvest.