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:

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Alaska Farm Bureau Scholarship- Deadline April 12, 2014

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

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.