§ 38. Mr. Kimballasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sources of information his Department relies on for statistics about the harvest in Lincolnshire.
§ Mr. NugentReports on crop conditions in Lincolnshire, as in all counties, are made by the local officers of the National Agricultural Advisory Service on the basis of their knowledge of conditions on farms in the county. This is in accordance with the practice followed over a number of years.
§ 39. Mr. Kimballasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the cereal yields for this harvest in Lincolnshire compare with the last three years ; 180W and what allowance has been made for the high moisture content and the depreciation of machinery which was used under such adverse conditions.
§ Mr. NugentThe yields per acre of wheat, oats and rye in Lincolnshire were estimated at 1st October to be below the yields obtained in 1953, 1954 and 1955. For barley and mixed corn, they were estimated to be below the yields obtained in 1953 and 1955 but a little above those obtained in 1954. The instructions under which the crops were estimated require allowances to be made for shedded grain or grain which cannot be harvested, but not for moisture content. Depreciation of machinery is a separate matter. Any additional costs incurred by farmers in dealing with the harvest will be taken into account in assessing farm income for the year at the time of the Annual Review.