[1][8] With the urging of agronomist Alfred Atkinson, he moved to Montana in 1909 as a homesteader near Fallon.

[7] In this capacity, he helped new settlers adapt to the semi-arid climate of Montana, teaching them about dryland tillage methods and crops that did not need irrigation.

[4] Wilson took a leave of absence from work in 1919 to attend graduate school in Wisconsin.

[4] The depression of 1921 resulted in farmers demanding price stabilization, domestic allotments, and parity.

[7][4] His work came to the attention of Beardsley Ruml, director of the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Foundation.

[4] In 1924, Wilson became the head of the Division of Farm Management and Cost Accounting for the newly formed USDA Bureau of Agricultural Economics (BAE).

[4] When Wilson returned to Montana State College in 1926, he became a professor and first head of the department of agricultural economics, serving in that capacity through 1933.

Department of Interior's Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) formed in 1933, Wilson transferred and was the Chief Wheat Production Secretary from May 16 to September 1, 1933.

[4] He contributed to public agricultural policy and programs designed to address drought, the Great Depression, and low incomes.

[1][5] His chief contribution was to help create the first agricultural commodity programs for the United States.

[6][1][4] With the latter, he worked to promote 4-H and convince the Millers' National Federation to enrich bread and cereals.

[4][8] On behalf o the USDA, Wilson traveled to other countries, sharing knowledge and encouraging students to come to the United States to train and study agricultural methods.