Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he’s hoping to boost food production in the state by changing the state’s Division of Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture via an executive order he will introduce on the first day of the coming legislative session.
The change, recommended last year by separate food security task forces set up by Dunleavy and state legislators, wouldn’t merely involve having the same people at the same jobs in a differently named workspace, according to the legislative-led task force report. A key difference would be elevating the head of the department to a Cabinet-level commissioner position.
“With a commissioner level seat, decisions could be made more quickly during emergency situations, generating a faster reaction time to situations that could reduce crop and livestock losses during disasters and disruptions,” the report states. “A separate department would also result in agricultural policies and funding needs receiving more focus and hearings in the legislature and more attention from Alaska’s governors over time.”
Dunleavy, in a prepared statement, also declared “the COVID pandemic was a wakeup call. It revealed how much Alaska had become dependent on functioning supply chains and how quickly a disruption at West Coast ports could wreak havoc in Alaska.”
But effective implementation of those changes would require more than just an executive order, with the Legislature needing to provide funding and “significant statutory and regulatory changes,” according to the task force report.
Alaska had a Department of Agriculture during its territorial days, but “shortly after statehood the Department of Agriculture was rolled into (the Department of Natural Resources) as a Division, and agriculture took a back seat to other industries with support services being reduced,” the report notes.
Dunleavy’s executive order will be introduced when the session begins Jan. 21 under authority in the Alaska Constitution that allows him to reorganize the executive branch, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office Friday.
“Unless rejected by a majority of lawmakers, the Department of Agriculture will be official on July 1, 2025,” the release notes.
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, a Juneau Democrat, said he’s open to the concept of reestablishing a state Department of Agriculture and agrees with the governor’s assertion more food should be produced within the state, but also has practical questions in need of answers. Among those is the Division of Agriculture has a $7.2 million budget this year and — based on expenses incurred in other state departments — elevating the Agriculture office to department level would appear to incur at least $2 million in extra costs that would be primarily administrative.
“If we’re going to spend the bare minimum of $2 million more, what do we get?” he asked. “Where’s the bang for our buck? Is it on fancy new letterhead and somebody with a commissioner title? Or is it on 15 program people putting boots on the ground, changing regulations, making grants of (agricultural) land happen out of DNR and actually moving the needle for farmers?”
The task force report estimates the funding needed for implementing the department over multiple years — including legislative policy changes — as “unknown but more than $20 million.”
Lorraine Henry, a DNR spokesperson, stated in an email Friday that “final costs are still being finalized and will be included in the Governor’s Amended budget which is subject to legislative approval.”
“Staffing would include current positions within the Division of Agriculture as well as a new Agriculture Commissioner’s office, elevating State agricultural policy to a Cabinet-level position and ensuring the agricultural sector remains a priority for the State under future administrations and Legislatures,” she wrote. “This focus will help develop a robust, durable State of Alaska agricultural policy, including a strategic plan with an implementation roadmap.”
The governor’s press release includes statements of support from the Alaska Farm Bureau, whose website states it “is the largest agriculture related organization in the State of Alaska,” and the nonprofit Alaska Food Policy Council.
“Creating a Department of Agriculture has been a long-standing priority of the Alaska Farm Bureau,” Scott Mugrage, the organization’s president, stated in the release. “Agriculture was a key industry here in territorial and early statehood days, with support, we can get back to that. We appreciate the Governor’s willingness to hear from us and our farmers and ranchers on this important issue and look forward to seeing more details of this Executive Order.”
Reestablishing the department has also been a multiyear priority for the food policy council, said Rachel Lord, the organization’s advocacy and policy director.
“We are eager to learn more details in the coming weeks and to collaborate with the Governor, Legislature, and partners across Alaska’s food system on this exciting opportunity for our state,” her prepared statement notes.
The governor’s press release states “Alaska currently imports approximately 95% of its food products,” but the legislative task force report offers a “demystification” of that figure, tracing its originals to statements made by two individuals giving speeches in 1977 and 1998.
“The percentage of purchased food that originates out of state is undoubtedly very high, and may actually approach 95%,” the report states. Among the questions are whether the percentage refers to food weight, cost, caloric value and/or some other factor.
“What is clear is that Alaska is highly dependent on food importation, and that our logistical challenges naturally make us much more vulnerable than other states,” the report notes. “Importation itself is not necessarily a bad thing, as we expand the diversity of our diets and the market seeks the most cost-effective sourcing for Alaskan customers. However, while we live in a global market, shortening supply chains can help support more robust food systems, reduce risk of disruption, allow access to fresher and therefore more nutritious foods, and retain value in our state economy.”
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
