Helping Former Enemies Recover, 1948

From the April 1948 issue of Extension Farm-News, a monthly newsletter sent from N.C. State College to state Extension Service employees

Dr. Ralph W. Cummings, associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at State College, is now in Europe after being named by the Department of National Defense to conduct a five-week study of fertilizers as related to food production in the occupied areas of Germany and other European countries.

The State College scientist is being aided on the study by Dr. K.D. Jacob, head of the division of fertilizers and agricultural lime of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dr. Cummings said the main work of the group will be centered in the American and British zones of occupation in Germany, but he reported that studies may also be made in Austria, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark.

Chief objectives of the study, Dr. Cummings stated, are to make an appraisal of fertilizer manufacturing facilities and conditions and to determine the approximate need for plant nutrients. The government hopes to step up food production in the occupied territory, and fertilizer production is one of the fundamental steps toward a hike in food growing, he asserted.

The German areas are “far from self-sufficient” in food growth, and federal authorities are anxious to take remedial measures for expanded output, Dr. Cummings explained.

Following the conclusions of the German study, Dr. Cummings will submit a report of his findings to the Department of the Army. He is expected to return to Raleigh the latter part of April.