THE CHEMICA.L WORLD THIS WEEK
Fertilizer Producers Establish Research Foundation C & E N REPORTS:
N a t i o n a l Fertilizer Association, Annual M e e t i n g
W H I T E SULPHUR S P R I N G S , W . V A . A "Century of Progress" was the theme of the three-day meeting of t h e National Fertilizer Association, held here June 12 to 14. Attended by m o r e t h a n 700 m e m bers, wives, a n d guests, t h e occasion marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of t h e association and t h e 100th anniversary of the compounding of fertilizers in t h e United States. The highlight of t h e meeting was a n announcement b y Russell Coleman, president, that the board of directors has a u thorized the formation of the N F A Plant Food Educational a n d Research F o u n d a tion. T h e purpose of the foundation "will b e to enlarge the support a n d further encourage the securing and dissemination of information oil the proper utilization of plant food, either a s separate materials or as fertilizer mixtures, in order that t h e plant food elements lost from our nation's soils may b e restored, that our agricultural production may be m a d e more efficient, a n d that t h e fertilizer industry m a y b e placed in a l>etter position to p r o d u c e and distribute t h e most economical a n d beneficial fertilizers for our nation's economy." The new foundation will b e a development and expansion of NFA's present plant food research committee. Membership in the foundation will consist primarily of NFA members w h o a r e the primary producers of fertilizer m a t e rials. The foundation will cooperate in t h e research programs b e i n g carried out b y individual members of the industry a n d those of local a n d national organizations such as the American Potash Institute a n d t h e Coke Oven Ammonia Research Bureau. Its prime objectives, however, will b e in fields which need additional attention. Included in this category are t h e determination o f t h e potential fertilizer market in various regions of t h e nation to guide the industry in meeting future demands; determination of fertilizer p r a c tices currently i n use; enlarging the study of methods of fertilizer distribution; o b taining factual information on t h e outlook for fertilizer consumption; devising additional ways and means to increase t h e dissemination of data to the fanner; institution of more effective educational p r o grams to develop potential fertilizer m a r kets; and still closer cooperation, in a wider field of endeavor, with t h e land grant colleges a n d extension services. T h e centennial theme was noted in t h e addresses of t h e four principal speakers, who w e r e Ealph Robey, National Association of Manufacturers; Sen. Allen J. E l lender, ( D . , L a . ) ; Robert M. Salter, U. S.
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Department of Agriculture; a n d Paul D . Sanders, editor of Southern Planter. Mr. Robey, an economist, in reviewing a century of progress in t h e nation's economy, stated that while t h e business picture looks good for t h e rest of the year, the U. S. is still in an inflationary period and that a s u d d e n break could occur without warning. H e voiced a warning against government policies tending toward a planned economy, legislation favoring special groups, deficit financing, the lack of a sound labor policy, a n d a n international policy designed to buy world leadership. Sen. Ellender chose as his topic t h e past and future role of t h e government in agriculture. H e emphasized t h e importance of agriculture to t h e nation's well being, and stated that it was t h e government's right a n d responsibility t o make every effort to support agriculture, not only through marketing quotas, price supports, but also b y extensive soil a n d water conservation programs. Robert M. Salter in his talk, "A Century of Progress in Agricultural Research," covered t h e past 50 years' accomplishments and outlined t h e future possibilities. Likening t h e farm to a n industrial plant, Dr. Salter advocated t h e establishment of pilot research farms. By this means, h e stated, t h e technological a d vances b e i n g m a d e through research, could be brought into widespread use much more quickly. If such technological advances are adopted, the substantial achievements of the past 50 years will seem very small w h e n compared with t h e possibilities of the next half century. T h e theme of Mr. Sanders' address was based on a statement of T h o m a s Jefferson who said, "While the farmer holds title to t h e land, actually it belongs t o all the people, b e cause civilization itself rests upon the soil." For this reason, he stated, t h e nation as a whole has a responsibility to maintain t h e nation's agri- ? culture. He also noted that * > the farm has always been |' the seed b e d of the nation's I population. T h e farm areas V',
