Agricultural Adjustment Act

The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), created in 1933 during the Great Depression, aimed to boost farm incomes by controlling production. It encouraged farmers to reduce crop output by paying them subsidies for not planting certain crops or for destroying excess livestock. The goal was to raise prices by reducing supply, helping struggling farmers recover financially. While it provided short-term relief, the AAA faced criticism for favoring larger farms and leading to food waste, but it laid the groundwork for future agricultural policies and support systems in the United States.