Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-09-08
Program Takes Place of Old
AAA and Brings Rich
Cash Returns To
Many Farmers
PAYMENTS MADE IN
COUNTY ARE $115,7O5
Organization F un ctions
With Local Committees
Checking Compliance To
Determine Eligibility of In
dividuals To Share in
Funds of Government

BY j. w. SANDERS,
County Farm Agent and Director of
Soil Conservation Program


Soil Conservation Program
When the Agricultural Adjustment
Act was declared unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court on January 6, 1896,
keen disappointment was evident on
the faces of the majority of farmers
and business men of the county, Dur
ing the three years of operation I'M
der this program farmers saw prices
of their commodities rise from that
which might be classed as virtual con-
fiscation to that of living wage. IN
der it's operation long lists of unpaid
taxes were wiped out, notes long past
due were paid, payments on mort
cages were resumed, foreclosures
were stopped, dire necessities of life,
including clothing, repairs on homes,
farms and farm equipment were pro-
vided.
The morale of the farmer-and
along with him. that of the business
man who is dependent upon the far
mer's prosperity-was lifted from that
of dependency to that of apparent
satisfaction because of the farm pro-
gram which had been advanced I'M
der the act before it was invalidated.
Fears for Future.
Fears Immediately arose in the
minds of all of these as to what might
happen to farm prices if there should
be no control program for the various
commodities. Naturally their eyes
turned to the farm leaders of the ma
ton, the Extension Service, the agri-
cultural colleges, the department of
Agriculture and the Congress to find
solution to the threatening situation
with which they were confronted.
Farmers Cooperate.
While these agencies were at work
in an effort to arrive at a workable
plan, the farmers were aware of the
fact that their moral support was
needed at this critical time. Accord
ingly, 1875 of the county's leading far
mers assembled at the court house in
Henderson on February Is, 1886, and
pledged themselves to fall behind any
feasible plan that might be offered
by the various agencies which were
working on a program.
Notice of this action was conveyed
to congressman and senators who
were requesting survey of the con-
sensus of opinion among the farmers,
and the information was also given
that the consensus of opinion was
that farmers, more or less panic
stricken, would increase their acre
ages of tobacco and cotton consider
ably in 1896, thus bringing prices back
down to ruinous points, if some form
of program were not adopted that
would help to control production.
Voluntary Committee.
A voluntary county planning COM
mittee was appointed and called to
meet on several occasions to study
and answer questions as to what far
mers would produce if a control pro-
gram were in effect and what they
would produce if no control program
were in effect. The final conclusion of
this committee was that cash COM
modities of cotton and tobacco would
be increased, while supplies for farm
and home needs would be curtailed.
With the passage of the Soil Con-
servation and Domestic Allotment
Act, and talk of compact legislation
by tobacco growing states, hopes be-
gan to rise. Considerable local de-
mand was evident for special ses-
sion or the state legislature 10 enact
a tobacco compact law. Upon the COM
pletion of details and the announce
ment of regulations under the new
Federal act the county agent attend
ed two-day conference at State Col
lege on the new program on March
1924, 1886, and which was held at the
mass meeting, which was held at the
Court House in Henderson April 3.
Overflow Meeting.
At this meeting the Court House
was filled to capacity. About $50 peo-
pie attended the discussion led by l.
B. Altman, district agent from State
College, and many others left because
they could not get inside the court
house. After the program was explain
ed it's approval was voted by those
present.
Henceforth plans were rushed to
get the necessary forms executed by
producers A series of meetings was
held at various points in the county
from April u to May to explain the
program and to have work sheets
filled out by producers. When a suf-