Alaska Ag.....a veritable alphabet stew

On the outside looking in, Alaska Ag seems such a simple topic. A logical person could and would, conclude that it generally covers what is grown here.  A little time researching will prove this idea is completely in error, and a large array alphabet agencies, organizations, and programs all have their hands in, or on, Alaska Ag.

We'll start with the Co-operative Extension Service, which lists these as loan sources for Alaska agriculture-

ARLF-Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund
ARRC-Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation
NFCS-Northwest Farm Credit Services
FSA-Farm Service Agency
CFAB-Commercial Fishing & Agriculture Bank
AHFC-Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
USDA-RD-United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development

There are a other sources of loans and grants, notably the USDA with an assortment of "one size fits all" programs, and the SBA-Small Business Administration, which offers a number of small business development sources, as well as larger loans for established concerns.  There remains, of course, private sources, such as equity and investment group funding...and all of these acronyms have one thing in common: They have strings.

And then there is the BAC.

Properly known as the Alaska Board of Agricultural Conservation, this panel of interested parties serves as a sort of rudder for the direction Alaska Ag takes.  This is the current roster of members:  http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/ag_bac2.htm   The BAC folks basically control what happens on Ag leases. If it does not pass their specific smell test, the answer is "No soup for you!"   I am not so sure their decisions would pass public scrutiny. If you have any plans in mind to improve your Ag lease, these are the people to please.

Direct from the legislation establishing the Board, worth the copy and paste in its entirety:

d) While serving on the board, a board member, or an immediate family member of the board member who shares the same household and financial resources with that board member, may not obtain a lease, permit, installment contract, or loan or purchase land under AS 03.10 or under AS 38.05, or have an existing lease, permit, installment contract, or loan under AS 03.10 or under AS 38.05 modified or restructured. Notwithstanding AS 39.52.150 (a), an immediate family member who does not share the same household and financial resources with the board member may obtain a lease, permit, installment contract, or loan or purchase land under AS 03.10 or under AS 38.05 or have an existing lease, permit, installment contract, or loan under AS 03.10 or under AS 38.05 modified or restructured. Notwithstanding AS 39.52.150 (a), a person may be appointed to the board even though, at the time of appointment, that person, or an immediate family member, has a lease, permit, installment contract, or loan under AS 03.10 or AS 38.05. However, that person may not take or withhold any official action that affects the lease, permit, installment contract, or loan of that person or an immediate family member who shares the same household and financial resources with that person. If a person with a lease, permit, installment contract, or loan under AS 03.10 or AS 38.05 is appointed to the board, failure by that person to abide by all the terms and conditions of the lease, permit, installment contract, or loan may be the basis for removal under (b) of this section. For purposes of this subsection, "immediate family member" and "official action" have the meanings given in AS 39.52.960 .


Our Division of Agriculture has no similar constriction...it's all buddy buddy, who you know, who you are related to over there. A fair percentage of our local farmers, have joined one or the other over the years. Some were one issue wonders, some hoped to create a better farming environment, and some hoped to make a name for themselves and saw the Ag as the means to get there. Others joined the Alaska Farm Bureau, and worked from the sidelines to improve whatever ailed them. In truth, there is a very long list of people who have either been involved in the agriculture bureaucracy, played a role in establishing it, took advantage of it, went broke, made money (a very few!), or otherwise impacted in some fashion.  (The Alaska Farm Bureau has engaged an Oregon firm to tell them whether or not MMM should be privatized. *cough cough cough* because it seems maybe the Div of Ag does not see the obvious?)

There are nearly 30 people on state payroll for the Div. of Agriculture, did you know? That roster is here:  http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/ag_es.htm    Please note that there are no less than four people under the marketing category. Now think, aside from negative press, when was the last time you heard or read about MMM?  Ever see an advertisement with their hours?  Any specials or sales? You can find fancy posters at Fred Meyer's about the number of "Alaskan Grown" items on the shelf every day, but you will not find one pound of beef or pork. Not a one.

You won't find any ads encouraging Alaskans to plant a garden either. A home garden must not be Ag, right?  No no no....Ag is *big* farming. It's not about improving Alaska's self reliance, or encouraging people to help feed the population....no, it's all about big crops and big farms and big money and as near as anyone can tell, big fails.