Alaska Ag...An Uncertain Future

With the State of Alaska facing financial Armageddon, Governor Dunleavy's proposed budget suggests big change is coming.

The particulars as it is related to agriculture can be found on the OMB webpage for the state. 

The overview can be found here:

2020 Governor Amended

Details can be found here:

DNR Component Detail

 For the first link, scroll right and see the proposed reduction percentages.  For the second link, read the notes in the possible scenarios.  At the end of this detail report, is the organization chart for the Division of Ag going forward. 

This trims the fat from the Division, and sets up the office to be a lean, mean  machine. Their focus will change drastically, as the component details show, by moving some activities elsewhere and literally deleting others.  The Division goes from 28 positions, to 14, while still preserving its core function.

Stakeholders are sure to start screaming wildly, but this is a point in time where one should ask themselves:  

What has the Division done for Alaskan residents? 

What has it actually done for ag? 

Is there a better way to deliver what little service it provides?

Remember, running a program that benefits only a few, yet costs hundreds of thousands of dollars in payroll expense, is not fiscally responsible in a time of deficit.

This is how ridiculous it has gotten. The state has one PCN on payroll for dairy inspections. Folks, there is exactly one commercial dairy in the whole state. Although under the ADEC umbrella, there is no need to continue this program with only one dairy. As the detail for ADEC notes:

Eliminating the dairy program will not increase risk to public health, as unregulated milk will not enter the market. Those wishing to purchase local milk will still be able acquire raw milk through a cow-share program.

The incumbent holding this position will be rolled into ADEC doing other functions, but it is still an indicator of our past proliferate spending overall. 

While the future of the Division of Agriculture might be uncertain, there is no uncertainty about the future of agriculture in Alaska at all.  With the right Director at the helm, and a savvy slate of folks on the Board of Agricultural Conservation, some needed changes in state regulation/policy, the future could be very bright indeed.