Changes

The goal was to increase farm prices up to the point of "parity". "Parity" was the relationship between urban and rural costs that prevailed in 1910-14, in the "golden age" of farming.   

The goal was to increase farm prices up to the point of "parity". "Parity" was the relationship between urban and rural costs that prevailed in 1910-14, in the "golden age" of farming.   

Farm incomes increased significantly in the first three years of the New Deal. Consumers paid higher prices than in 1932-33, but food was still 25% lower in price than in the 1920-31 period.<ref> For detailed price data see [http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1938-06.pdf ''Statistical Abstract: 1938'' (1939) ch 13 pp 306ff]; for farm income see ''ibid.'' ch 25 pp. 616ff</ref> A Gallup Poll revealed that a majority of the American public opposed the AAA, but the majorities existed in Congress to pass it.  The AAA established an important and long-lasting federal role in the planning on the entire agricultural sector of the economy. [[File:Food$21-40.jpg]]  

Farm incomes increased significantly in the first three years of the New Deal. Consumers paid higher prices than in 1932-33, but food was still 25% lower in price than in the 1920-31 period.<ref> For detailed price data see [http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1938-06.pdf ''Statistical Abstract: 1938'' (1939) ch 13 pp 306ff]; for farm income see ''ibid.'' ch 25 pp. 616ff</ref> A Gallup Poll revealed that a majority of the American public opposed the AAA, but the majorities existed in Congress to pass it.  The AAA established an important and long-lasting federal role in the planning on the entire agricultural sector of the economy.  

[[Image:Food$21-40.jpg|right]]  

 

===Sharecroppers and the 1935 purge of the far left===

===Sharecroppers and the 1935 purge of the far left===

One criticism from the left was that in the cotton belt South the AAA favored rich landowners over the impoverished tenant farmers and sharecroppers.  The allegation was false but was widely spread in history books.  (The AAA required land owners to maintain the same number of tenants and croppers as before.)  

One criticism from the left was that in the cotton belt South the AAA favored rich landowners over the impoverished tenant farmers and sharecroppers.  The allegation was false but was widely spread in history books.  (The AAA required land owners to maintain the same number of tenants and croppers as before.)