Title

UAF Cooperative Extension Agent Supports Advocacy for Alaska Grain Reserve

Relevance

{"ops":[{"insert":"Food security in Alaska is a challenge. Nearly 95% of Alaska’s food is imported from the lower 48 states. Extreme environmental conditions make large-scale farming a challenge. Following an unusually wet winter in 2021, many of Alaska’s state-grown feed grain crops were a failure, resulting in shortages and significant price increases as farmers had to purchase imported feed. Many livestock producers in the state were forced to cull their herds at a time when Alaska’s livestock production industry had been growing.\n"}]}

Response

{"ops":[{"insert":"Cooperative Extension Agent Phil Kaspari, who lives and works in Delta Junction, Alaska, has a keen understanding of the need for livestock and grain and forage production in Alaska. In March 2023, Kaspari worked with state and local stakeholders to get a discussion of a grain reserve on the agenda of the local Farm Forum meeting. This topic had been brought up since the 1980s, but Kaspari and others hoped the recent impacts from poor weather combined with disruptions in the supply line resulting from the pandemic would help bring the issue to the forefront. A combination of meeting agenda items, legislative advocacy and networking brought the issue to the attention of the Alaska Division of Agriculture, who then worked to draft legislation to make the project a reality. Kaspari supported the Division to ensure the needs of local farmers and producers were considered.\n"}]}

Results

{"ops":[{"insert":"The efforts of local advocates who worked with UAF Extension resulted in a $1 million investment from the state of Alaska to build a grain reserve in collaboration with the Alaska Farmer’s Co-op. The Co-op will enter into contracts with growers over the next five years to establish a grain reserve. This reserve will ensure affordable feed is available to livestock producers when extreme weather conditions affect crop productivity, while also providing a reliable market for growers to sell grain.\n"}]}

Public Value Statement

{"ops":[{"insert":"Alaska’s grain reserve will provide an essential step in modernizing food security in Alaska. The lack of a grain reserve in the state has been recognized for many years. Reliable access to feed for livestock will support the continuance of growth in Alaska’s livestock producers, removing some of the risk for those looking to enter the market. Increased livestock production will add to the availability of local foods to increase food security in the state.\n"}]}

Primary Focus Area

Food Security

Secondary Focus Area

Food Security

Impact Statement