The Poplar Standard

FARMERS BENEFIT AAA To Resume Soil Program
WASHINGTON.-Extensive operations of the AAA soil conservation program were ordered resumed by the department of agriculture after congress finally approved a $255 million dollar administrative fund for the setup. Administrative expenses are in addition to the $265 million dollars which will go directly for payments to farmers participating in soil-saving practices.

Inaugurated in early days of the New Year. the AAA program offers cash and materials, principally lime and fertilizers, to farmers for carrying out approved soil and water conservation practices. Local details of the program are carried out by more than 100,000 farmer committeemen.

The program was halted in May when the house voted to appropriate only 165 million dollars for the setup this year and to end it altogether next year. The AAA had worked out a $300 million dollar program and President Truman had recommended that amount in his budget to congress.

Although the $255 million finally voted by congress is lower than the sum asked. the soil program is being resumed on the same basis as originally planned. The appropriation for administrative expenses is about 18 per cent less than last year. Bulk of the reduction in personnel and other expenses will be absorbed in Washington and state offices. allowing local AAA offices to retain most of their present staff.

A farmer may sign up for any number of approved projects, but he is promised only a certain amount of money with the provision that he will get additional payments if any funds remain after all farmers have been paid their minimum guarantees.

The program will be cut drastically next year. At insistence of the senate. however, the house agreed to go along with an appropriation of 150 million dollars for 1948