HC Deb 30 March 1984 vol 57 cc323-5W
Mr. Eadie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance has been given to public funded agricultural research in the treatment of neck rot of onions; and what have been the estimated financial savings to the industry annually since 1979, giving separate figures for England, Wales and Scotland.

Mrs. Fenner

In 1974 a seed treatment developed at the National vegetable research station was introduced into full commercial use and this, combined with improved harvesting and storage techniques developed by ADAS, has led to successful control of this disease. Current research includes the breeding of varieties of onions that are resistant to the disease and assessment of the transmission of the disease between autumn and spring-sown crops.

It is not possible to quantify the financial saving in the form asked in the question. It is estimated that whereas the potential loss to the onion crop from neck rot in storage is about £6 million at 1984 prices, actual losses are now between 1 and 3 per cent. of the crop value, that is between £200,000 and £550,000.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance has been given by public funded agricultural research in the treatment of potato cyst nemotode; and what has been the estimated financial savings to the industry annually since 1979, giving separate figures for England, Wales and Scotland.

Mrs. Fenner

The potential national loss to the potato crop from potato cyst nematode amounts to about £55 million at 1984 prices. Research has identified the importance of rotations, breeding resistant varieties and applying granular nematicides. Breeding work at the plant breeding institute has produced Maris Piper, which is resistant to one of the two pathotypes of the pest, and this variety contributes more than 25 per cent. of the total ware-crop. Another variety resistant to the same pathotype is currently in national list testing, and breeding at both PBI and the Scottish crops research institute is directed to producing varieties resistant to the other pathotype. The development of nematicides has been achieved by research at Rothamsted experimental station. It is not possible to quantify savings in the way asked but it is estimated that in 1983 the loss had been reduced to about £36 million that is about 7 per cent. of the total value of the crop.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance has been given by public funded agricultural research in cereal plant breeding crop yields; and what have been the estimated financial savings to the industry annually since 1979, giving separate figures for England, Wales and Scotland.

Mrs. Fenner

State-funded breeding programmes on cereals are directed to improving yield, quality and resistance to pests and diseases. An integrated programme of research is being undertaken and it is not readily possible to distinguish effort solely directed to investigating yield in isolation.

It is not possible to quantify the results in the way asked in the question as improvements in national yield are attributable to both improvements in varieties and agronomy and other factors. Over the period 1967 to 1983 the national average yields of wheat, barley and oats rose by 49 per cent., 26 per cent. and 22 per cent. respectively, and it is estimated that half these increases were attributable to improved varieties. At 1983 values this increase was worth about £30 million annually. Not all this increase was attributable to State-bred varieties; State-bred varieties account for more than 70 per cent. of the total wheat, 100 per cent. of winter oats, and less than 20 per cent. of the other cereals.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance has been given by public funded agricultural research in the treatment of powdery mildew of barley; and what have been the estimated financial savings to the industry annually since 1979, giving separate figures for England. Wales and Scotland.

Mrs. Fenner

Publicly-funded work has produced varieties of barley which have resistance to powdery mildew. Because the pathogen can develop new races which will overcome resistance, present breeding work aims at identifying new sources of resistance to incorporate into breeding lines. Research, both public and commercial, also aims at improving the control obtained from the use of fungicides. About three quarters of the winter barley crop and half the spring crop are now treated with fungicides. It is not possible to quantify the financial benefit to the industry; the potential loss could be considerable but it is estimated that in 1983 the combined use of resistant varieties and fungicides reduced the loss to about £40 million, that is about 5 per cent. of the value of the crop.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance has been given by public funded agricultural research in the treatment of ketosis; and what have been the estimated financial savings to the industry annually since 1979, giving separate figures for England, Wales and Scotland.

Mrs. Fenner

Over the years publicly-funded research has led to an understanding of ketosis. As a result it is possible for farmers to prevent or reduce the effects of the disease. Similarly the veterinary profession can provide a rational treatment regimen if the disease is not prevented.

Kestosis in sheep, otherwise known as twin lamb disease, occurs in pregnant ewes. It is therefore a seasonal disorder, and each lambing season the Ministry issues forecasts on the possibility of ketosis occurring.

Although there is reason to believe that the incidence of ketosis is now lower than it was, it is not possible to quantify the financial savings.