Final answer:
The controversial element of the New Deal's Agricultural Adjustment Act was the ordered destruction of a considerable amount of livestock to curb agricultural surpluses and stabilize prices during the Great Depression, which was not well-received given the widespread starvation and poverty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The controversial element of the New Deal's Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) was the government ordered the destruction of a great deal of livestock. One significant aspect that received considerable backlash was the mandated reduction of crop acreage and the destruction of existing crops and livestock to reduce surpluses and raise agricultural prices. As a result of the AAA, farmers were paid to plow under their crops, and there was the butchering of six million baby pigs and 200,000 sows. This was seen as controversial especially during a period where many Americans were suffering from starvation and poverty.
The necessity for such drastic measures stemmed from an excess of crops like cotton and hogs, which needed to be reduced to stabilize prices. Despite the criticisms, these measures were taken with the goal of alleviating rural poverty and restoring profitability to agriculture, which was severely impacted by the Great Depression. However, these actions negatively affected farm laborers and tenant farmers, causing them to lose their jobs and livelihoods due to reduced production needs.