Alaska agriculture: harvest or havoc.

• Author: Richardson, Jeffrey

For such a small industry, Alaska agriculture sure raises a lot of big questions. Why, for instance, is there so little to show for the millions of dollars poured into the agriculture industry? Why, despite a substantial bureaucracy devoted to helping farmers grow crops and profits, do so few Alaska farmers make a serious livelihood from farming?

Seeking an answer to these questions is John Cramer, the state's new director of the Division of Agriculture. With the help of a task force created to put the sins of the past in proper perspective, he is assembling Gov. Hickel's agricultural strategy. The plan? No gimmicks, a lot of consolidation, a couple of new angles, and a bullish attitude toward agriculture.

"Our potential is tremendous," says Cramer.

The administration's new policy is to "go ahead with agriculture in an environmentally and financially sound manner." To accomplish this, Cramer says, the government first must encourage agricultural development but get out of the way and let farmers do what they know how to do.

Second, Cramer believes that Alaska needs to broaden its perspective of agriculture. Beyond vegetables, milk and grain, the state could use greenhouse and nursery enterprises, grass seed production, reindeer and game animal farming, berry-growing, and honey and shellfish production.

"My basic philosophy on agriculture is somewhat non-traditional," he says.

Small Potatoes

Simple statistics show how miniscule Alaska agriculture is compared to other farming regions of the Lower 48.

For the 12 months ending January 1, 1992, the total value of Alaska vegetables was $4 million. During the same period, about 700 Alaska milk cows produced 13.3 million pounds of milk valued at $2.7 million. Alaska livestock includes 8,000 head of cattle, 2,000 sheep and lambs, 2,000 hogs and pigs and about 4,000 chickens.

Tiny as the agriculture industry is in Alaska, its advocates have long argued that small is fine -- with smart planning, managing and marketing.

Growing a Farm

Alaska's heavily funded, large agriculture projects that failed have caused consternation to Cramer and his colleagues, but they insist there's a foundation of success on which to develop a modern, profitable industry.

A prime example of Alaska agricultural success is the Vanderweele farm. Suus and Ben Vanderweele came to Alaska 25 years ago and started their farming operation with $400 and 20 acres. Now the couple farms 120 acres, employs 15 seasonal hands and uses modern equipment for everything from irrigation to product sorting and packaging. Relying on a personalized, pavement-pounding approach to marketing, they have developed a high profile in the local produce market.

In fact, says Cramer, local farmers have a 70 percent retail market share for potatoes in the Railbelt region -- and a potential trade with local...