ABSTRACT
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF the rivalry between the Production and Marketing Administration (PMA) and the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) for dominance over the soil conservation program were narrated in Chapter 6. The competitive urges in the agencies were restrained to some degree, first in 1949, by the provision which Representative Jamie L. Whitten of Mississippi inserted in the agricultural appropriation bill authorizing PMA county committees to transfer up to 5 per cent of their program funds to SCS for technical assistance for PMA-subsidized practices. Next, Secretary of Agriculture Charles F. Brannan took the second important step to reduce friction when he issued Memorandum 1278 in February 1951. This directive gave specific responsibilities to the Soil Conservation Service and the Forest Service for participating in the Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP). They, together with the state extension services, were joined with other interested state agencies and the state PMA committees to form an organization known as the ACP development group. After the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) replaced PMA, the Secretary directed this agency to invite the governing boards of soil conservation districts to advise the county committees which are responsible for recommending practices and the amount of federal subsidy for each in county conservation programs.
