HC Deb 28 November 1974 vol 882 c200W
22. Miss Fookes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement of his progress to date in dealing with the shortage of fodder and its consequent cost.

Mr. Bishop

The failure of the hay crop is very serious for some livestock farmers. There is no easy solution to the physical shortage of fodder. But cereal feed is in adequate supply. The higher returns for beef, which my right hon. Friend announced last week, will help some cattle farmers to pay for feed. They should also encourage some movement of cattle to areas where supplies of feed are less short. Following completion of the regional fodder survey we are discussing with the Farmers' Unions whether any other measures would be practicable.