Author
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PANTOJA, ALBERTO |
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Submitted to: Circumpolar Agricultural Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2004 Publication Date: 9/27/2004 Citation: Pantoja, A. 2004. The role of usda-ars in the agricultural development of alaska. Circumpolar Agricultural Conference Proceedings. Abstracts Page 12. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The Unites States Department of Agriculture (USDA) first established an Agricultural Experiment Station in Alaska in 1898. From 1898 to 1932 several research locations were established in the State and in 1932, the USDA research program was transferred to the University of Alaska. The USDA returned to Palmer, Alaska in 1948 to work on agronomy, soils, pest management, dairy, agricultural engineering, and horticulture. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) was created in 1953. The USDA Palmer unit set the basis for modern agricultural production in Alaska. Many of the small grains potatoes, and forage varieties used in Alaska were developed by the ARS program. In 1985 the USDA Unit was moved to the main University of Alaska Campus in Fairbanks for research on minimum tillage and wind erosion; only three USDA positions remained in the State. During the decade of the 90's, the unit's mission evolved to study the effects of climate change, carbon storage and crop residue management, methane consumption by grassland in the arctic, and carbon dioxide effects on crops yield. The unit developed management practices to eliminate wind erosion in interior Alaska, especially in the Delta Junction. The USDA ceased research operations in Alaska in November 30, 1994, but returned to Palmer in 1998 to work on arctic germplasm in collaboration with the State of Alaska Plant Material Center. Additional personnel were added and the management Unit was moved to Fairbanks in 1999. During 2001 the Palmer germplasm Unit became a worksite of the USDA Fairbanks unit. The new Unit focused research on ecology and management of grasshoppers and on germplasm adapted to arctic regions. Research on fish byproducts was added to the Units mission in 1999. The grasshopper project was expanded to include work on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and a new project on virus free potato was added to the Units's mission during 2002. The IPM project research mission includes invasive weeds, insects, biological control, and diseases of important crops in Alaska. Since 1998, USDA-ARS in Alaska has expanded from two to fifteen research positions in 2004; two locations, Palmer and Fairbanks, and collaboration with several state agencies. Currently the mission of the unit is: 1. To improve the understanding and control of invasive plant pests, plant pathogens, weeds of agricultural importance in subarctic cropping and Alaskan natural systems, 2. To collect and preserve important arctic plant germplasm resources, 3. To develop virus-free potato germplasm, and 4. To develop effective and economical utilization of fish processing byproducts. Since it establishment in Alaska USDA-ARS released more than 40 cultivars of potatoes, barley, raspberry, and grasses. The research of USDA-ARS has enhanced productivity, profitability and environmental quality of Alaska's farming and fishing industries and natural resource areas by reducing threats posed by wind and water erosion, invasive insect pests, weeds and pathogens through research and technology transfer resulting in the introduction of new and innovative IPM strategies suitable to northern latitudes, increased utilization of seafood byproducts, and collection, conservation, and characterization, of germplasm adapted to arctic and subarctic environments. |
