§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture what information he has as to the extent to which cleaning machines have been installed on farms in the United Kingdom; and whether he will consider increasing the controlled price for seed bought by merchants from farmers with a view to encouraging improved volume and germination of clean seed, rather than permitting the continuation of the annual loss suffered by agriculture due to drilling seed uncleaned.
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§ Sir T. DugdaleThe agricultural machinery census taken in January, 1952, showed 9,700 power-operated winnowers and cleaners on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom; in addition, there are various hand and power-operated fanners and similar machines on farms which can be used for some seed cleaning processes. Except in a few cases, these machines are not suitable for precision cleaning of small seeds in the same way as the range of special seed cleaning machinery used by seed merchants.
There is no control over the price of seed bought by merchants from farmers. The advisory services generally encourage farmers to sow clean seed of suitable varieties and strains.
§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture the total sales of seed by merchants to farmers in the United Kingdom; and how these figures compare with the total quantity of seed sown on farms during a similar period.
§ Sir T. DugdaleSales of seed by merchants to farmers in 1951–52 are estimated to have been as follows:
Great Britain Tons Wheat … 123,594 Barley … 76,090 Oats … 123,514 Rye … 3,004 Dredge Corn … 14,240 United Kingdom Herbage seeds … 30,092 Other agricultural seeds … 13,548 Vegetable seeds … 11,022 In addition, many farmers save and sow their own seed or sell seed to other farmers under licence. I have no information about the total quantity of seed actually sown on farms.