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Agriculture and Horticulture
In 2001, the first peonies at Georgeson Botanical Garden were planted as a research
experiment. The experiment bloomed. Today, there are more than 135 commercial peony
growers statewide and peonies are Alaska’s only major agricultural export. Vegetable
variety trials expanded to the Matanuska Experiment Farm in Palmer. Studies continued
on the use of persistent herbicides to control invasive species such as European bird
cherry.
Health, Home and Family
An advantage of hosting events via Zoom is that it gives faculty a greater statewide
reach for classes on health, food preparation and preservation. For areas of the state
with limited bandwidth, some Zoom classes are recorded and emailed to registered attendees.
A radon presentation drew more than 200 people from Alaska, as well as nationwide.
StrongWomen/Strong Seniors classes continued via Zoom, outdoors or indoors with masks
and social distancing. Online classes sometimes attracted 20 to 50 individuals, some
from outside Alaska.
Mining and Petroleum Training Service
MAPTS was awarded the U.S. State Department’s “Advancing Greenland’s Mineral Sector
Education” grant as subrecipient to the University of Utah. This three-year project
includes hosting Greenland staff and students at the MAPTS camp, creating curriculum
in partnership with Greenland, and training a local workforce to create a facility
that models MAPTS Mine Training Center. This project emphasizes MAPTS’ unique ability
to train local workforces and to safely operate in arctic conditions.
Youth Development
Most programming remained remote. The Bristol Bay 4-H Federally Recognized Tribes
Extension Program completed its ninth year. Take-home activity kits were a big success
in 4-H programs around the state; 700 were distributed in Tanana District. In Bethel,
the 4-H club served more than 10,000 meals to people who lost their jobs or were otherwise
affected by the pandemic.
Cooperative Extension provides trusted, research-based information to Alaskans. It is part of a national education network supported by a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and land-grant universities.
Researchers with the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station create knowledge and solve problems in agriculture, forest sciences and outdoor recreation.
The Mining and Petroleum Training Service delivers training, development and consulting services to resource industries.
The impacts here provide a glimpse at our accomplishments for 2021.
Research
Nine farms and the Matanuska Experiment Farm’s vegetable variety trials program contributed to the Tilth Program. Thirty-nine vegetable varieties were donated, totaling 10,632 pounds of produce, a 5,067-pound increase. Alaska Tilth handed out over 1,900 recipe bags, and the produce was used in 100,000 Kids Kupboard meals. The Tilth program not only helps supply food for people in need, but it also helps support local farmers, making our food system more reliable.
Crops
Continuing research in spring wheat varieties, cover crops, barley and malting barley. The outcome of this research will provide a spring wheat cultivar that can be grown in Alaska with good quality and thus contribute to Alaska food security. A two-row barley could be used as a malting barley for Alaska brewers.
4-H and Youth
Sitka 4-H’ers worked with the Sitka Conservation Society to collect invasive European black slugs, which are known garden and agricultural pests. A friendly competition resulted in 600 invasive slugs collected, disposed of or shared with scientists.
One Tree
OneTree Alaska provided birch sap collecting kits to more than 220 families. Kits included a sap bucket and lid, a drill bit, a spile or tap, directions and recipes. Families learned how to collect and measure sap, and turn it into syrup.

Past Annual Highlights
- Boreal Alaska - Learning, Adaptation and Production
- Deltana canola developed at UAF
- Embracing technology to reach more Alaskans
- Extension celebrates 100 years
- Field course, NRM degree prepares Alaska students for careers
- New guide provides Alaska herb information
- Peonies new cash crop for Alaska
- Youth program offers diverse activities