From January through April 2012, SNRAS professor Mingchu Zhang took a short sabbatical in China learning about that country's peony research and commerce. He collected information about the peony market and established personal connections with researchers and peony growers in China. What he learned there may have important lessons for Alaska growers.

on the cover: Geography Awareness Week, hosted by the UA Geography Program, a department of SNRAS, included an event on Nov. 19 at the UAF Wood Center based on the theme “Geography: the Adventure in Your Community.” Pearl Creek Elementary School fourth grade teacher Mary Maisch brought a huge 3-D map of Alaska her students made. The detailed relief map featured rivers, mountain ranges, parks, forests, cities and villages.

This report covers two years' worth of research, highlighting the Agricultural Research Service's integrated pest and invasive plant management projects as well as the work of SNRAS. Highlights of AFES and SNRAS research include examination of environmental policy and law; effect of progesterone and melatonin on gestation length in reindeer; alternative agronomic crops; poplar as a short-rotation bio-energy crop; and organic amendments and fish byproducts for peonies.

Since the arrival of non-Native peoples to Alaska, the state has heavily relied on importing most food. Food security concerns have been raised related to supply disruptions, cost, and health. This thesis was designed as a pilot study and intended to provide information on local vegetable and fruit production in the Tanana Valley through a survey of commercial vegetable and fruit producers.

The survey provided insight into characteristics of producers, production, and marketing practices. Increasing crop production in the Tanana Valley is possible, but measuring current production may require a more complex measuring system that is more consistent with producer practices. Alaska faces many challenges if it is to transition from an un-integrated food system to a more comprehensive food system that generates value to local communities.

Trials at the botanical garden consist of new and standard cultivars suitable for small market gardens and home gardens in the Tanana Valley, Alaska. Each year more than 300 annual flowering plants are grown in field trials.

Sustainable, secure food, resources, and energy for Alaska in the face of climate change is the theme of the most recent issue of Agroborealis. New political landscapes are developing in the Arctic as sea ice retreats, simultaneously opening up new shipping lanes and new challenges for arctic peoples. Biomass and renewable-based hydrocarbon research are pointing the way to increased energy security and industrial development, while Alaska's farmers and schools are rising to the challenge of providing secure access to locally appropriate food supplies.

Research has been conducted at the Georgeson Botanical Garden since 2001 on peony field cut flower production and distribution, from field selection and planting to post harvet handling and packaging for export. This publication is the latest in a series, and addresses three components of the production cycle: field planting dates, root quality and plant productivity, and post harvest handling of cut stems.

With the recent release of 'Sunshine' hulless barley there has been an increase in interest about growing grains in a small-scale garden setting. Even though the scale is greatly reduced, a few square feet versus many acres, the same principles apply to growing a high yielding crop successfully. This publication reviews crop selection of species and varieties suitable to the north, seedbed preparation, soil fertility, tilling, pest control, harvesting, processing, and flour storage.