U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today released the following statement regarding the verdict issued in the New York jury trial of former President Donald Trump.
This is a very sad day for America and the rule of law. The conviction of a former President—the leading candidate for the White House—just months before the election sets a dangerous precedent and pushes our great nation even further into banana republic territory. This case, brought by a far-left, partisan local prosecutor who campaigned on getting Trump, exemplifies the old Soviet adage: Show me the man, I’ll show you the crime. President Trump should be exonerated on appeal. The 2024 presidential election should be decided at the ballot box, not by this unprecedented political prosecution. I trust that the American people will see through this gross abuse of our justice system.
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan
Washington, D.C.
Alaska agriculture is diverse, innovative and growing
On May 7, 2024, we celebrated Alaska Agriculture Day — a day created to appreciate the many agricultural endeavors that provide food, fiber and energy resources to our communities, bolster our economy, and lead us toward a more food-secure state.
The farms, ranches, growing spaces and community gardens that make up Alaska’s unique agricultural industry are as diverse as they are innovative, combining traditional practices with novel technologies that tackle our unique challenges. Agriculture in Alaska is also growing — the number of farms in our state increased by 18% from 2017 to 2022, according to the USDA Ag Census.
In celebration of this industry, which contributes over $40 million annually to Alaska, I would like to highlight some of the different goodies that fill our Alaska ag cart.
Alaskans raise many different types of animals: goats on the Kenai Peninsula, bison in Delta Junction, yaks in Trapper Creek, chickens in Southcentral, and reindeer on the Bering Sea.
Ranchers across the state take on the challenge of raising animals to provide meat, dairy products, eggs, fiber and more to their communities. Farmers producing hay and other forage foods support ranchers by providing local feed, and make up the top crops in the state by acreage — more than 80% of all farmland!
Many other farmers work hard to provide fresh vegetables, cut flowers, grains and fruits to Alaskans, selling their products in restaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets and food hubs. With help from outstanding nonprofit organizations like the Alaska Farmers Market Association, Alaska has 64 farmers markets and eight food hubs in 29 different communities, helping connect the growers to their customers. The Alaska Food Policy Council continues to support educational opportunities for new and beginning farmers and advocates for supporting the complex food system here in Alaska.
Some communities have created tribal-led food cultivation programs that provide fresh produce to elders and community members and enhance community well-being and food sovereignty. These movements also engage youth in cultivation and wild food harvest practices, preparing them to be Alaska’s future.
Other opportunities for youth in agriculture, like 4-H, FFA, Ag in the Classroom, professional development opportunities and Education Mini-Grants are in abundance. These efforts are supported by the Alaska Farm Bureau, the Intertribal Agriculture Council, UAF’s Cooperative Extension Service, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and many other organizations. These youth development programs make a difference in our communities!
Unique challenges require unique solutions, and Alaska growers rise to the occasion. Some farmers have shifted to hydroponics, which allows for year-round access to fresh, locally grown food. This innovation allows Alaskans to eat leafy greens, lettuce and herbs the same day they’re harvested in January.
Alaska’s 33,904 miles of shoreline does not go unnoticed. Alaska is home to 86 mariculture operations producing oysters, mussels, geoduck and kelp, and we are ranked 13 out of 50 for mariculture in the country. Mariculture producers are responding to global challenges by being at the forefront of emerging uses for seaweed, such as protein replacement and bioplastics.
At UAF’s Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension, we are working hard to improve the lives of Alaskans. By participating in efforts like Alaska’s Food Security Task Force, growing research at UAF’s Experiment Farms and supporting outreach to producers around the state, we are providing farmers and ranchers with the tools and knowledge they need to support Alaska’s future. Our researchers are working to develop northern crop varieties, test seed drying processes, develop effective storage facilities and evaluate cover crop effectiveness to increase soil health. Collaboration with producers allows us to respond to our communities’ needs in a changing world.
As we celebrate Alaska’s agriculture, let’s also celebrate the critical partnership that farmers, ranchers, nonprofits and researchers have in building strong Alaska communities. Support local when and where you can as we all benefit when we keep our money within our communities. Happy Alaska Ag Day!
Jodie Anderson, Director
UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension
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