The Restoration Land Phase of the Agricultural Conservation Program, 1938, in the Northern Great Plains States with Suggestions for Future Programs

Excerpts: The restoration land phase of the Agricultural Conservation program was carried out in the five Northern Great Plains states under the direction of the western and north central divisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. The objectives of the program to remove land not suited to cultivation from crop production was uniformly held in all states. Variations in natural and economic conditions in different areas and variations in procedure in different states and in counties within the same state did, however, affect the acreage set aside for restoration. One problem common to all areas is that of maintaining in permanent vegetation land on which restoration payments are made. In those areas where crop acreages have declined the program was accepted as a means of retiring unproductive tracts from cultivation. Counties in these areas frequently exceeded their assigned quotas of restoration land. In those areas where crop acreage has been maintained the reaction was less favorable and in these better farming areas little land was designated for restoration.