Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Game

Exotic meat market
Bison, elk and yak among latest flavors
By S.J. KOMARNITSKY, skomarnitsky@adn.com
Published: 05/05/08 00:02:46
LAZY MOUNTAIN -- Down a muddy lane on Todd Pettit's 600-acre Pitchfork Ranch near Palmer stands a herd of bison 65 strong. It's mid-April, but already mosquitoes swirl around their massive heads. They utter soft "woofs" as their leader, a 2,000-pound behemoth named Rumble, swaggers forward to eye a visitor. These animals are meant for more than life as tourist attractions. Pettit is one of a dedicated band of Alaska farmers raising sometimes-exotic breeds for meat, breeds that include bison, elk and even yak.You can read the full story online at:http://www.adn.com/taste/story/396266.html


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World's Largest Seafood Expo Begins Tues

World's Largest Seafood Exposition Begins Tuesday
SeaFood BusinessApril 21, 2008
Buyers and sellers from around the globe descend upon Brussels, Belgium, this week to meet and do business at the 16th annual European Seafood Exposition and Seafood Processing Europe. Read More >

I realize this is not diversified livestock but it does have to do with food safety and current topic in today's markets...........


Retail & Foodservice
Beech-Nut Adds Wild Alaska Salmon to Baby Food
Alaska Journal of CommerceApril 21, 2008
Wild Alaska pink salmon, combined with sweet potatoes, is one of a new line of nutritious foods for babies aged 8 months and older that was introduced this spring by Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp. Read More >

Mat-Valley Farm Tour Presentation

Farm Tour & Sustainable
Agriculture Presentation

Join Division of Agriculture staff and guest presenter Mary Jo
Forbord for a livestock based farm tour and presentation.

• Mary Jo is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Farming Association
  of Minnesota www.sfa-mn.org and with her husband operates
  Prairie Horizons Farm, a grass-fed beef operation.
  www.localfoods.umn.edu\prairiehorizons

Farms to be visited:

• 
  Pitchfork Ranch - Bison & Elk
• 
  Nash Farms/Windy Valley Musk-Ox -
  Musk Ox
• 
  Wolverine Farm- Organic Beef
• 
  Division of Agriculture
  presents:
  For more information contact: Amy
  Pettit 761.3864
  Amy.Pettit@alaska.gov
  Date: Thursday, 4/24/08
• 
  9:00am meet at Division for Farm
  Tours
• Transportation not provided,
  lunch on your own.
• 
  2:00pm meet at Division for
  Sustainable Farming Presentation

ANCHORAGE MARKET & FESTIVAL SPACE

Thank you Anchorage Market & Festival along with Webbs Consulting and Management Services, 741 East 13th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501

ADLA, Inc. memorandum
to: ADLA, Inc. Members
from: Ruby Hollembaek
subject: Anchorage market & festival certificates
date: 4/6/2008
cc: Webbs consulting and management services

Deadline is April 30th, 2008.

#1 Value: $140 X 3 weekends = $420 : Dates: 5/10, 5/11, 5/17, 5/18, 5/24, 5/25
#2 Value: $140 X 3 weekends = $420 : Dates 5/31, 6/1, 6/7, 6/8, 6/14, 6/15
#3 Value: $140 X 3 weekends = $420 : Dates 6/21, 6/22, 6/28, 6/29, 7/5, 7/6
#4 Value: $140 X 3 weekends = $420 : Dates 7/12, 7/13, 7/19, 7/20, 7/26, 7/29
#5 Value: $140 X 3 weekends = $420 : Dates 8/2, 8/3, 8/9, 8/10, 8/16, 8/17
#6 Value: $140 X 3 weekends = $420 : Dates 8/23, 8/24, 8/30, 8/31, 9/6, 9/7 (CLOSED FOR ALASKA INTERIOR GAME RANCH, INC/selling hides, mosaic skulls, & hunts)

Famous Farmer Forsees Change

Check this out:
http://www.adn.com/matsu/story/365375.html
SUGGESTIONS FOR ALASKANS
Ableman offered some suggestions for improving sustainable agriculture in Alaska:
• Develop models that produce food year-round by building more greenhouses, for example.
He lauded the Beans for installing a wood-burning stove in one greenhouse to cut down on fossil fuel use.
• The general population needs to rediscover what he calls wild-crafting: hunting, fishing, berry and mushroom harvesting.
• More ranching, because people need protein as well as fruits and vegetables. More beans would help.
• Be more creative. "Everywhere rural communities say, 'We've always done it this way.' " He thinks egg and poultry production should be investigated.
• Ableman was unaware of the difficulties the dairy industry faces in Alaska. Still, he thinks there's room here for some kind of livestock. Maybe sheep.
• Alaskans should use some of the Permanent Fund to develop a food system. "There'll be a time when people will prefer that (food) to getting a check in the mail."
• Farmers and their kind need to be more proactive in getting their message across about how important their work is to people. "At the moment, the attitude (among non-farmers) is: Why bother when I can go to the store?"
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Michael Ableman has published three books on farming:
•"Fields of Plenty," Chronicle Books
• "On Good Land," Chronicle Books
• "From the Good Earth," HNA Books

I was unable to acquire the notes from speakers at the ADLA, Inc. Conference. My apologies.
We will move forward with information about Alaskan agriculture and food here.
Thank you. Ruby Hollembaek

Sponsors for the 2008 AK Livestock Producer Conference

Thank you for these sponsors for their monetary or item donations:
(Please let me know if I've overlooked anyone)

Alaska Diversified Livestock Association
Alaska Farm Bureau
Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation (ARRC)
Alaska Department of Natural Resources; Division of Agriculture
Alaska Garden and Pet Supply
Mid-Columbia Insurance, Inc.
Fence Emporium of Alaska
Pioneer Equipment
Country Companies
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Webb's Consulting and Management
Alaska Interior Game Ranch
Pitchfork Ranch
Hawks Hill Elk Ranch
Golden Bear Monarchs Elk Farm
Windy Valley Muskox Farm
Northern Lights Elk Ranch

Scholarship Applications

Subject: Jim Snead Scholarship Applications Now Accepting For Post-Secondary Education Students
Please circulate the attached scholarship application to those pursuing post-secondary degrees.
Jim Snead Scholarship Application
Alaskan residents who are pursuing transport/aviation/aircargo or sponsored by AACA members.
Deadline April 15, 2008
More information
More information, contact Rebecca Hayes at 907 261-9480
or Howard Fisher at 907 266-7801.