Farming in Alaska You Don’t Have To Be Crazy– But It Helps

Farming in Alaska

You Don’t Have To Be Crazy– But It Helps

Challenges

• Markets and Infrastructure

• Weather and Climate

• Culture

Markets and Infrastructure

Weather and Climate

Ag Culture

• Climatic challenges to food production are accepted

• Socio-economic benefits of agriculture are understood

• Planning for the next generation of farmers/ranchers

• Business climate conducive to agriculture is supported in regulation and statute

Clean Water Act

• Irrigation Runoff• Rainfall• Snow melt• Livestock Lagoons• Drainage ditches• Septic Systems• Buried Irrigation Lines• Irrigation Ditches

Clean Air Act

Green House Gas

Operation Size Tax/head

Dairy 25 $120

Beef 100 $85

Hogs 200 $20

GHG Solution

Danger = Opportunity

95%

Developing a Local Food System

Benefits

• Security• Freshness and Quality• Economics

Challenges

• Outside Productivity• Distribution Networks• Volume

Food Security

• 1989 – Port of Anchorage froze• 2001 – 9/11• 2002 - West Coast Longshoremen strikes• 2009 - Mt. Redoubt eruption• 2002 – Earthquake• 2012 - Alaska Highway washouts in Yukon

Territory

• Long-term restoration of Alaska’s supply lines from and export pathways to the Lower 48 may take many months, even years, while damaged or destroyed infrastructure in the PNW is repaired or replaced.

• Without Pacific Northwest ports available to load barges and container ships with these commodities, the state and its consumers would rely on trucking to bring these supplies north in smaller amounts and at higher cost.

• It is in the best interest of the State of Alaska to develop plans and mitigation strategies to minimize such impacts on Alaska before a damaging PNW earthquake compromises the state’s principal economic lifelines.

Alaska Food Pyramid

Barley, wheat, oats, rye, spuds

Berries, applesrhubarb

Meat, cheese, eggs

Vegetables

Milk

Canola oil, lard, honey,Ice cream

Economics

• $2.5 Billion• 95% imported• $2.5B x 25% = $625M• $625M x 4 = $2.5B

• 2010 Oil Production Revenue = $4.6 Billion

Current Farm Sales = ~$30M

Determination

Goals

• Increase food security for Alaska• Provide opportunity for our children• Open new markets for local farmers

Decisions

• Equipment• Insurance• Packaging• Pricing• Food Safety• Market Access

Quality Control

• USDA inspected grain• DEC approved mill• Metal detection equipment• Customer Protection Equipment