June Document of the Month

(NAI, CSO/RP/1918/7663)

The June Document of the Month is an extract from the Seventeenth Annual General Report of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction from 1916 – 1917. The report details the attempts by the Department to increase food production and modernise farming practices in the face of growing food shortages brought about by the First World War. Changes in food distribution and production were compounded by the export of many food stuffs to England and the control of food production by the government as part of the war effort. A decline in tillage farming in favour of livestock had made Ireland susceptible to the increased demands brought about by the War. Outdated farming practices, poor weather conditions and the shortage of seeds and fertilisers had led to severe food shortages in a number of areas. This led to increases in food prices which impacted on the ability of the poorest in society to feed their families.

Compulsory tillage was introduced under the revised Defence of the Realm Act in 1917, which required farmers with holdings of 10 acres or more of arable land to increase the amount of cultivated land by one-tenth. The report demonstrates the ongoing attempt by the Department to manage the compulsory tillage order by concentrating resources on hiring extra inspectors, facilitating the distribution of seeds and fertiliser, purchasing equipment to spray crops, investing in tractors and other modern equipment and educating farmers on how to maximise their yield. They also invested heavily in a marketing campaign of ‘display advertisements on propagandist lines’ and produced articles in provincial newspapers ‘advocating an increase of tillage in Ireland, not only in view of the special circumstances of the time, but as a national policy at all times’.

In the wake of the 1916 Rising, the Department was very conscious of the potential for public and political unrest if food shortages went unchecked, especially in view of the continued supply of seed potatoes and other food stuffs to England. Close inspection was made of all supplies for export. ‘Extreme vigilance had to be exercised to see that this added drain on the available Irish supplies did not interfere with the meeting of the demands of Irish growers’. Detailed returns were maintained of all available food supplies and copies were given to the military authorities. The export of potatoes was halted in December 1916, except under licence, due to the partial failure of the 1916 crop. To protect supplies at home, it was deemed necessary to restrict the issuing of export licences further until June 1917 when surplus supplies were permitted to be exported under licence. A similar situation arose in relation to the export of oats.

The continuing ‘difficulties of sea transit’ brought about by the successful targeting of merchant ships by German submarines had led to major shortages of artificial manures. Attempts were made to import material whenever possible and to add to supplies by finding alternative sources in Ireland. The price of fertilisers was strictly controlled and attempts were made to prevent crop failure and increase yield through a campaign to spray crops. More than 2,500 sprayers were purchased for distribution among farmers. This included ‘the entire output of the largest manufacturers in the United Kingdom’ and more sourced in France. The total amount spent on the Compulsory Tillage Scheme up to the 31 March 1917 was £26,727.

To view extracted documents please see NAI, CSO/RP/1918/7663.