Thaler Act

The Thaler Act is an act of the New California Republic Congress concerning the expansion of agriculture in the Mojave Wasteland.

Overview
Enacted by the Republic Congress, the Thaler Act is intended to stimulate the growth of agriculture in the Mojave. Under its provisions, farmers may establish farms in the Mojave under the NCR's aegis. In exchange for money, military protection, and a supply of water overseen by the Republic, they are expected to supply crops to the NCR according to their individual quotas. Failure to meet the quota will result in termination of the contract.

The most important example of the act's implementation is the NCR sharecropper farms outside New Vegas. Working with bad soil and water rationing, the farmers have nonetheless managed to establish a large scale farming operation providing various crops to the entire region.

Behind the scenes
The Thaler Act is conceptually similar to the Homestead Act of 1862. Under this act, the U.S. government gave underdeveloped land west of the Mississippi River to farmers for free. In exchange, the farmers had to live on the land for five years and improve it.