Contributed by Amy Petit
The following letter was submitted to the Mat-Su Borough Land Management Division during the Public Comment Period which ended on 3/1/21. Alaska Farmland Trust invites and encourages all members of the Borough to become educated on this topic matter.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Alaska Farmland Trust (AFT) I am writing to express my concern over Mat-Su Borough (MSB) Land Management Case #006818. As you know the mission of the AFT is the permanent protection of agriculturally viable soils. We encourage the MSB to deny the applicants request to allow for an interim change to the agricultural restriction on parcel Tax ID: 20N04W05C003.
Alaska is leading the nation in new and beginning farmers. In the lower 48 our industry experienced a 3% loss of farmers from 2012-2017 and yet in that same time period, the number of farms in Alaska grew by 30% (USDA Ag Census Data). The MSB has 14% of the State’s population and yet in 2020 we built 43% of the new homes in the State (Neal Fried, MSB Economic Trends presentation to Palmer Chamber 2/24/21). There is tremendous development pressure on existing farms and lands designated for agricultural use through covenants and restrictions.
The pandemic has further demonstrated our States tremendous reliance on imported goods, including and most importantly food. The MSB is responsible for over half of the entire States agricultural production. Leadership at the MSB is encouraged to take a “zero net loss of agricultural soils” approach and develop strategies that incentivize further food production rather than allow for destruction of the few remaining agriculturally viable parcels in the area.
As a content expert in soil management and agriculture restrictions, I am not aware of any evidence that reclamation that “replace(s) the topsoil to original or better condition after the mining operation is complete on the subject parcel” (as referenced in the Public Notice) is possible.
Alaska Farmland Trust would like to work with the MSB: Land Manager, Agriculture Board, Assembly, Mayor; along with the Palmer & Upper-Su Soil & Water Conservation District Managers and the applicant, to develop a different strategy. We request a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss alternative solutions.
Alaska Farmland Trust recognizes the unique challenges with this parcel, the financial constraints on the Borough and the intent of agriculture restrictions. We look forward to working with all interested parties on a solution that allows for responsible resource extraction, additional revenue, and increased food security.
Should you have questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at amypettit@akfarmland.com or (907) 355-2706.
On March 3rd, the guest on Ag Matters Radio was Jeff Lowenfels, Gardening & Soil Expert. Amy and Jeff discussed the damaging impacts that soil disturbance has on its future production capability. The public is invited and encouraged to listen to the podcast archive at www.radiofreepalmer.org Look for the “podcasts” tab, select Ag Matters and click on the link from 3/3/21.