§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the fodder situation in various parts of the country, what steps his Department is taking to give assistance to rectify the situation.
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Mr. AmoryI am watching the situation carefully but see no evidence at present that the requirements for extra hay or alternative feedingstuffs will not be met in the normal way through trade channels. Meanwhile, the National Agricultural Advisory Service has been active in advising farmers in the areas concerned on such points as the best methods of salvaging hay, making autumn silage and the most economical method of making up their winter feeding rations from the fodder available.
County agricultural executive committees in upland districts, where the situation is worst, have been reminded that
(1) the Agricultural Goods and Services Scheme enables them to purchase fodder and supply it to a farmer on credit if it is clear that he is creditworthy and is unable to purchase fodder for cash or on credit through normal trade channels;
(2) they have discretion not to require a farmer to spend part of his hill cow subsidy on improving his land if they think that the whole of it would be better spent on winter keep. In addition, the committees have been given authority for this year only, to exercise the same discretion with the hill cattle subsidy.