The Worst Hard Time

This chapter explains another provision of the Agricultural Adjustment Act: paying High Plains settlers to slaughter their animals. Through animal slaughter FDR hopes to reduce the food surplus and keep meat prices stable. As the title of this chapter suggests, government men must select which animals are too sick (and those will be left to rot), and which animals are healthy enough to go to the local slaughterhouses. High Plains residents like Bam White get two dollars a day for shooting cattle.

The chapter also discusses the on-going problem with the dust storms. In January of 1934, there are four dust storms in the southern plains, “followed by seven in February, seven in March, fourteen in April [...] four in May, two in June and July, one in August, six in September, two in October, three in November, and four in December” (153).Egan tells how the constant dust storms are becoming too familiar and tiresome for Americans outside of the Dust Bowl to hear and read about anymore. However, this detached attitude changes in May of 1934, when a black duster sweeps across the country. The duster starts in the Dakotas and Montana, moves through Ohio, covers Chicago and by morning falls over Boston and finally arrives in New York City, covering the Statue of Liberty with topsoil.