Alaska Ag......The Information Gateway is Locked

In the repository of Alaskan agriculture information masquerading as the DOA, you might be quite surprised to discover that much information might as well be inside the Ft. Knox vault.

Want statistics that are not published as part of a program directive?  That takes a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request.

Want details on what the DOA is actually doing?  See above.

Wondering where the Dear Director has been, and how much it cost us?  See above.

Have questions about the DOA's activities and staffing? See above.

Curious about livestock processed at MMM&S? See above.

And about those "FOIA" requests......

Every inquiry is run past the law department before compliance, because...well, it is the DOA after all, and all must be (mostly) approved by higher ups.

If they are confused or stalling, a week or so will pass, and they'll respond with a plea for more specific information...in which case, the clock is reset on their response allowance of two weeks. Or, they'll tell you that it will take more than your allotted 5.5 hours of time (per month) to look up the information (which they have in their databases and files) so it will cost you xx amount-which works out to about $58 per hour of their time. They'll restart your clock when you've paid in full and thank you very much for this opportunity to be of service.  >sarcasm<

It's not clear when a staffer was anointed, but at least one has been "delegated the authority to deny Alaska Public Records requests".  It would take a FOIA to find out who granted that power and if they had the authority to do so, but it's the DOA, after all, the information vacuum of the State. So, whatever your inquiry, there is now the added threshold of this persons' opinion on your request, and then it is passed along to DNR, and the Law Department.

The newest excuse, carefully prepped by the endless resources of the Dept of Law, is "trade secrets", not the more common "no such documents exist".   Each denial response letter will contain the relevant Alaska statute number, and include a legal case reference pertaining to that statute. It will also include instructions on how to appeal their decision. In fact, the DOA relies on the Law Department so much, it's a mystery why they don't have an attorney on staff themselves.

If you should be so careless as to mention specific community members in your FOIA, rest assured that the DOA will let them know you asked, and for what. There is nothing confidential about any contact you make with them yourself, an important distinction to remember. Confidentiality extends only to the CBC of Ag, and whatever the DOA does, so it seems. This is a one way information highway, in practical terms.  

Because no general guide apparently exists that describe what records are to remain legitimately, legally private, every FOIA request submitted is literally a shot in the dark.  They will refuse, when they could easily redact identifying information (if that is the concern) and perform the public service they are paid to perform.

As gatekeepers of Alaska agricultural information, they appear to be diligently working to assure that their employers (that would be us) cannot find out what the heck they are doing, if there are any measurable results for their programs and activities-yet gossip freely about farmers, ranchers, others in the community-up to and including details on those who have loans with the ARLF. These are not banking, personnel, human resources, adoption, SSNs, and assorted records we're talking about here. No, this is information that the DOA has in its possession, concerning its activities and programs and the business it conducts.

It is a strange juxtaposition of closely guarded information that the DOA endeavors to keep secret, and a public persona of bright, shiny optimism, spouting nonsensical gibberish when spotlighted. (Such as the fairy tales Dear Director told the 30th Alaska state legislature)

Why should it be so difficult to get information from a state agency?