The Act is an experiment in dry-land farming. Much of the land in the Nebraska Sandhills was claimed by ranchers following the Homestead Act. Because the land did not have easily accessible water sources, small farms were difficult to establish. With the Kincaid Act, Congress attempts to move land into the hands of individual farmers, thereby making it more easily taxable. The Act also makes land available in 640 acre parcels, significantly larger than the Homestead Act allowed. The hope is that with larger land claims, the chance for long-term sustainability will increase for farmers on previously "unproductive" land. The redistribution of land through this Act will become one of the factors that leads to the Dust Bowl.