Soil conservation and extension in Missouri: A study of conflict

Excerpt

PASSAGE of the Soil Conservation Act of 1935 (Public Law 46) set the P stage for tension and conflict in a number of states, including Missouri. For more than 25 years, implementation of Public Law 46 was opposed in Missouri. The opposition felt that a strong federal approach to soil conservation represented too much national intervention in the solution to state and local problems.

Opponents in Missouri to the federal ap-proach agreed that soil conservation was aproblem warranting social concern. Whatthey opposed was federal personnel work-ing directly with Missouri farmers. Thatrepresented to them a duplication of and infringement on the mission of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture and Extension Service.

The battle was long and sometimes bitter. A number of the state's agricultural leaders were involved. Strong personal feelings were generated that remain today. As a public issue, the conflict began in 1935 and ended in 1962.

Historical developments

Social concern …