Upon the acceptance of each such plan by the Secretary of Agriculture and his approval of the plan, the department is authorized and empowered to accept and receive all grants of money made, pursuant to the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, for the purpose of enabling the state to carry out the provisions of such plan. All such moneys shall be paid into a special fund in the state treasury to be known as the soil conservation fund, which fund is hereby established. The appropriations made from such fund shall be available to the department for expenditures necessary in carrying out the plan, including administrative expenses, expenditures in connection with educational programs and research programs in aid of the plan, and for benefit payments, as provided in said appropriations.