The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-01-03
Reiensed by Western Newspaper Union. 4,

| tReleased by Western Newspaper UnionD
| WASHlNGTON.-You may have
heard about the Alabama plan" Of
the Triple A which some have said
Is an attempt Of reversing the pol
icy OF paying farmers for mot do
ing and rewarding them for do
ing" find that the department Of
agriculture doesn't go that far. Or
| hcials there describe il rather, as
paying farmers less for mot doing"
but assuring them benefits for TAX
ing part in constructive program.
This is the way one member Of
the Triple A tells the story:
Down in Alabama they're trying,
on a statewide basis, an experiment
In balanced farming that may even
tually be a pattern for farm pro-
grams in other areas. It's known as
the Alabama Plan" and it's simply
plan based on good farming prac-
tees, which over five-year period,
provides for building up the soil and
otherwise improving the individual
farm to the point where 1t becomes
q productive unit
The Alabama plan is not compli-
Gated. 1t Is part of the AAA farm
program. 1t carries further than
ever before the conservation work
done under the AAA program. As
under previous AAA programs,
farmers will receive conservation
payments for planting within their
acreage allotments Of special crops,
such as cotton, tobacco, peanuts,
wheat, and potatoes. However, I'M
der the so-called Alabama Plan, In
operation for the first time In l941,
full payments made to Alabama
farmers will be contingent upon car.
Tying out Of certain good farming
] nsAattces. ass-.,s,s. .-llsl 80 !.
PI6nnSd Csnssfv6tion. ~ L
The difference between the Ala
bama Plan and the general conser-
walton program IL about the differ
ence between going into q cafeteria
and picking out dish or two that
you especially like and sitting down
to well-balanced meal. Heretofore,
farmers In Alabama and other
states have had available to them
certain practices which they could
use TO earn the payments available
under the farm program. They
have used many Of these but natur-
ally they have not always picked out
the best combination Of practices
for the land. That was the cafeteria
method Of soil conservation. Under
the Alabama Plan, the conservation
program worked out for each farm
represents q balanced type of farm
ing. That's the well-planned meal
type Of conservation.
Not only Ia the conservation well
planned for each year, but 1t In
worked out for five years in advance.
The Alabama Plan. like most
parts Of the farm program, came
from suggestions from farmers
themselves who have observed the
operation Of the farm program and
made suggestions on II from time
to time. Alabama farmers have felt
the need for more planning and
more balance In their conservation
work and the AAA program has
been adapted to make II possible
for this statewide experiment In
conservation to be undertaken be-
ginning in 1941.
The Alabama farmers who want
this type Of program believe that
farmer who does not take care of
his soil should not receive the full
benefits under the farm program.
Requirements Of Plan.
Here's what the Alabama farmer
has to do to avoid deductions in his
conservation payments for 1871:
l. Grow erosion-resisting crops
each year on an acreage equal to
at least Is per cent of his cropland.
2. Properly terrace ali cropland
In the farm having a slope in excess
Of 2 per cent.
3. Establish or maintain perennial
soil-conserving crops on at least one
acre for each IS acres of cropland.
4. Establish or maintain permanent
posture on at least one acre for each
Is acres of cropland.
Requirement No has to be car
ried out each year, of course, but
numbers 2, 3, and are to be done
over fve-year period. One-fifth Of
the requirements under points 2, 3,
and 4 must be carried out each year.
Deductions in the farmers con-
servation payments will be made on
the basis of per cent of the pay
ment for each 10 per cent by which
he fails to carry out the 1871 require
ments.
The Alabama Plan is resulting in
more cooperation among farmers
in many cases. For example, opera
tors OF small farms are not able to