Alaska Farm Bureau, Inc.
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CoinJ
March 2014

 

I want to send out a BIG THANKS to all of our members who have sent us photos for the website and for our Faces of Alaska Agriculture campaign. Keep them coming!! Our new website is almost done and will be launched by April 1st. In the meantime, you can check out the progress of our new site at 
http://alaskafb.org. (Chapter leaders, please send us more info for your new updated Chapter pages.)
 
As we move into our busy season, I wanted to share a quote with you to keep in mind when you have a challenging day.
 
 

Happy Trails.....

Jane Hamilton
Executive Director
Alaska Farm Bureau




 

Last Frontier Agricultural & Environmental Services, LLC

 

Offering soil sample collection and analysis, integrated pest management plans, irrigation water management, grazing management, water testing and feed testing. 

 

Call Catherine Hadley at 907.460.8628

or send her an e-mail:

akfarmgirl1@gmail.com

 



FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

  

Alaska Farm Bureau Scholarship- Deadline April 12, 2014

 

The Alaska Farm Bureau is again offering a $2,000 scholarship to applicants who are interested in working in an agricultural or natural resource field.  Applicants may be graduating high school students or adults who are applying to schools for the fall semester or students already enrolled in a college, trade school or vocational school.
 
The deadline to apply is April 12, 2014.  Click here for the application. If you have questions, please contact the Alaska Farm Bureau Office at 907.803.4752 or the executive director by e-mail at janehamilton99737@yahoo.com.
 
The scholarship is funded exclusively by the scholarship auction held each year during the Friday Forum and Annual Meeting events in November.  100% of auction funds are devoted to the scholarship program.  The number of scholarships offered each year depends on the amount of money raised.  Scholarship are offered in $2,000 increments, with any balances carried forward towards the next year.  The Scholarship Auction will be held in conjunction with the Awards Banquet that will be held at Land's End Resort in Homer on November 14th.  
 
Please help us spread the word by sharing this post on your Facebook page:
 
Please "like" or share to help us spread the word to teachers and students about the $2,000 Alaska Farm Bureau scholarship! Hurry! Deadline to apply is April 12th. http://alaskafb.org/news/alaska-farm-bureau-scholarship-deadline-april-12-2014/ 

 


 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Ursa Major Distilling's gin took a Bronze Metal at the 2014 American Craft Distillers Association's spirit judging in Denver.

Ursa Major Distilling Company is in Fairbanks and proudly uses Alaska crops in their products.  The gin was made with Delta Junction's Pam Rule's barley.

Both Pam Rule and Rob Borland, owner of Ursa Major Distilling, are Alaska Farm Bureau members.

Congratulations, Rob and Tara Borland!

 

 


 
**********CLASSIFIED ADS**********

 

Reindeer Wanted:  The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center wants to purchase a few reindeer for public exhibit and education.  Please contact Mike Miller at mike@alaskawildlife.org or telephone him at 907.301.7942.

 

Classified Ads are free.  Submit your ad to the newsletter editor at
janehamilton99737@yahoo.com or phone 907.803.4752.

 

 



ALASKA FARM BUREAU MEMBERSHIP

 

Our membership year is November 1st through October 31st.  We've just completed the fifth month of the 2014 membership year.  To date, none of our six chapters has reached their membership quota, although several are very close.  A chapter's membership quota is one member more than the previous year.

 

The Mat-Su Chapter has 103 members of their 119 quota.

The Copper River Valley Chapter has 7 of their 14 quota.

The Delta Chapter has 45 or their 55 quota.

The Kenai Peninsula Chapter has 42 of their 49 members.

The Fairbanks Chapter has 70 of their 103 quota.

The Kodiak Chapter has 12 of their 16-member quota.

 

All members whether they are General or Associate members are eligible for all of our membership benefits:

 

  • Office Depot:  Up to 80% off preferred products.  Free Shipping to Alaska on orders over $50.00.  Go online to http://akfb.fb.org
  • COUNTRY Financial:  Offering ID Theft, Home, Auto, Life policies and Financial Planning.  Farm policies are sold only to Alaska Farm Bureau Members.
  • Choice Hotels:  Up to 20% off when you stay at any Comfort Inn, Quality, Clarion, Roadway Inn, Econo Lodge, Mainstay Suites, and Suburban hotels.  Must use their www.choicehotels.com website or call 1-800-258-2847.  Discount code:00228830.
  • Grainger:  10-50% discounts on merchandise purchased online and at the Anchorage store.  Free shipping on merchandise sent to Alaska that is ordered on-line at www.Grainger.com.  Your account must be set up with them as a Farm Bureau member.
  • GM Discount:  $500 discount on all GMC, Chevrolet and Buick new cars and trucks.  All vehicles are eligible for the discount except the Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac. Must be a member for 60 days.  You print your own certificate at www.fbadvantage.com/deals/gm.  You will need to enter your Alaska farm Bureau membership number.
  • Prescription Drug Program:  Discounts for you, your family and your employees.  There are no enrollment forms, no claim forms.  There are 50 participating pharmacies in Alaska including Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Fred Meyer, Safeway and drug stores around the state.  Discounts for those with and without insurance.  Request cards from the Alaska Farm Bureau Office at 907-803-4752 or janehamilton99737@yahoo.com
  • NAPA Discount:  10% discount at all NAPA stores in Alaska, except for those in Tok, Kodiak and Southeast who are not participating in this program.  For Fairbanks and Delta, use code 0495. Elsewhere in the state use code 3276.
  • Farm Bureau Bank:  Significant savings on all business and personal financial needs-credit cards; deposit accounts including money market savings and IRA's; vehicle, student, home loans and much more at www.farmbureaubank.com.
  • AVIS Car Rental:  Discounts on vehicles rented both inside and outside of Alaska at participating rental offices.  Use AVIS Code A298802.
  • CASE-IH:  $300-500 discounts on equipment purchased at CASE-IH dealerships in Anchorage, Fairbanks as well as in the Lower 48.  Use the link on our website http://akfb.fb.org to print your discount certificate.

 

 

 



 

McCLOY FELLOWSHIP - GERMAN FARMER EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Deadline April 15th

 

In 1979, the American Council on Germany invited the American Farm Bureau Federation to participate in the first McCloy Fellowship in Agriculture.  Since that time, two to four Americans and a like number of Germans have exchanged visits each year as part of this professional exchange program.  Through a 21-day study tour of Germany, American Fellows get a firsthand look at a farm and food-supply conditions and improve their understanding of German and European agriculture.

 

Individuals to be considered for nomination must be between the ages of 28 and 40.  Each state is eligible to submit only one application.  The application must be submitted electronically in either a Microsoft Word or PDF file.  Applications must be emailed in their entirety prior to April 15th to the Alaska Farm Bureau.  For more information and an application form, please contact the Alaska Farm Bureau Office by calling 907-83-4752 or e-mail the executive director at

Janehamilton99737@yahoo.com

 

  


 

Get Your Operation Promoted for Free! 

 

The "Faces of Alaska Agriculture" is the new series announced in our January newsletter begun by our new Webmaster to help get the word out about agriculture in Alaska.  

 

These "faces" will be used on our website and on social media.  To have you, your family, your farm and/or your agricultural business featured, send your photograph along with a brief explanation. A draft will be sent for your approval prior to publishing. 

 

By submitting the photo, you are giving the Alaska Farm Bureau permission to use it online or in print media.  We will use the photos to promote agriculture in Alaska as well as your farm, ranch, or operation.  Send your pictures to the Farm Bureau's executive director, Jane Hamilton at janehamilton99737@yahoo.com

 

This free promotion only available to members of the Alaska Farm Bureau. To join go to: http://akfb.fb.org/

 

 

 

 



BOARD OF REGENTS MERGES EXTENSION AND UAF SCHOOL

 

The University of Alaska School of Natural Resources and the Cooperation Extension Service have merged together.  The goal of the merger is to strengthen the research, teaching and outreach missions of both.  The new name is the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension.

 

Stephen Sparrow, dean of the school and director of the Alaska Agricultural and Forestry experiment Station, and Fred Schlutte, vice provost for outreach and director of Extension, will lead the new school. 

 


 

ARRC - Lending to Farmers Is Our Business

 

Line of Credit loans for all farm-operating costs. (3 years) Chattel loans for equipment new or used (5 years on used 7 years on new). 
 

Real Estate loans for purchase or improvements to land (up to 20 years.)

 

All loans are 5 to 9 percent interest depending on credit and collateral.  Call Steve at 907-745-3390 or email at steve@arrc.us.

 

 


 
WHAT'S GOING ON

 

April 12th: Scholarship application deadline.

 

April 15th:  Deadline to submit your data for the Division of Ag's Source Book.  Data is submitted at their website http://http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/sourcebook/index.htm.

 

Last half or April there will be several apple tree-grafting workshops at the Tanana District Extension Office in Fairbanks:  For information:  Email Steven Seefeldt at ssseefeldt@alaska.edu

 

April 5th:  Fairbanks Farm Bureau Chapter's Annual Meeting at Chena Hot Springs Resort.

 

April 26th:  Agriculture Forum at Land's End in Homer.  Sponsored by the Kenai Peninsula RC&D Office. 

 

May 1st:  Kenai Farm Bureau Chapter Meeting at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds. 

 

November 14th: Friday Forum Conference, Awards Banquet and Scholarship Auction at Land's End Resort in Homer.

 

November 15th: Alaska Farm Bureau's Annual Meeting in Homer, Alaska.

 

 

 

 


 

DON'T FORGET!! 

 

LIST YOUR FARM AND AG BUSINESS IN SOURCE BOOK

 

The Division of Agriculture is putting together their 2015-2015 Source Book.  The Source Book is the only statewide listing of all producers with items for sale.  The Division of Agriculture will be collecting data through April 15th.  At least 5,000 copies of the Source Book will be printed and distributed to the public.  The data is also made available online in a searchable format.

 

The Division of Agriculture collects and distributes this data every two years.  No one will be added to the 2014-2015 Source Book automatically.  You must fill out the application even if you have been in the publication in the past.  There were two hundred and twenty-five producers that provided their data for the 2012-2013 book.  The Division is hoping for a 20% increase this year.

 

Provide your data at the Division of Agriculture's website www.dnr.alaska.gov/ag.

 

 


 

Agriculture-Related Bills Submitted During this Legislative Session:

  

 

HB 77:  Introduced at the request of the Governor - An Act relating to the Alaska Land Act, including certain authorizations, contracts, leases, permits, or other disposals of state land, resources, property, or interests; relating to authorization for the use of state land by general permit; relating to exchange of state land; establishing that performance of a feasibility study for the development and operation of a hydroelectric site at Chikuminuk Lake is not considered an incompatible use of the Wood-Tikchik State Park; relating to procedures for certain administrative appeals and requests for reconsideration to the commissioner of natural resources; relating to the Alaska Water Use Act.

 

HB 121: Introduced by Rep. Feige - An Act relating to the examinations, board, loans, records, and lobbying contracts of the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank.

 

HB 202:  Introduced by Rep. Feige - An Act raising the application fee for a drawing permit for the hunting of bison to $20; requiring the game management plan for bison in the Delta Junction Bison Range Area to include mitigation of bison damage to farm crops and farm and personal property; and authorizing the commissioner of natural resources to make grants to mitigate or prevent damage caused by bison.  (Members at the November 16, 2013 Alaska Farm Bureau's Annual Meeting voted to support this bill).

 

HB 207:  Introduced by Rep. Feige - An Act establishing the Board of Agriculture, Conservation, and Development; transferring the powers and duties of the Natural Resource Conservation and Development Board to the Board of Agriculture, Conservation, and Development; transferring to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development the authority to approve loans from the Agricultural revolving loan fund; terminating the Natural Resource Conservation and Development Board.  (Support for this bill was defeated by members at the November 16,2013 Alaska Farm Bureau's Annual Meeting). Amendments have been introduced that will close or dispose of Mt. McKinley Meat and Sausage.  The House Resources Committee has to vote to include the amendments in the bill, which has not happened yet. 

  

HB 215:  Introduced by Rep.Tarr - An Act relating to the labeling of food; relating to the misbranding of food; requiring labeling of food products with genetic engineering.

 

HB 224:  Introduced by Rep. Drummond - An Act limiting the application of neonicotinoid pesticides.

 

HB 231:  Introduced by Rep. Chenault - An Act eliminating the Department of Revenue's duty to register cattle brands.

 

HB 238:  Introduced by Rep. Tarr - An Act relating to the municipal procurement preference for state agricultural and fisheries products; relating to legislative oversight of that procurement preference.

 

HB 248:  Introduced by Rep. Kawasaki - An Act establishing May 15 each year as Think Local Day.

 

HB 249:  Introduced by Rep. Kawasaki - An Act prohibiting the use of genetically engineered seeds or plants to produce or grow agricultural products for sale.

 

The full text of each bill can be found at http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/index.php.

Type in the bill number in the "Search" box.  You can find the full text, the sponsor's statement and the bill's history and current status.

 

 


 

Need a New Website?


Alaska Farm Bureau members get a 20% discount on all new websites. 

*Custom design
*Unlimited pages 
*Easy to update yourself any time

*You own the site 

*Get found online and get more sales!

PLUS! Everyone who orders a new website during the month of April will get a FREE LOGO- or update of your current logo (a $300 value!)

 

Introductory website package 

Regular rate..............................................................     $1500

AKFB Member Rate with 20% Discount...............only $1197 

 

+ FREE LOGO................................................................$ 300

                                                            TOTAL SAVINGS $603

 

Contact Wendy Kenney for personal service.

1-877-932-5219 or 480-242-5219

We GUARANTEE our work!!

Websites we have done: 

http://alaskafb.org

http://www.SitkaWildlifeTours.com

http://marketingalaska.co/

http://matt-allen.net/