U.S.D.A. SCIENTIST HEARING COMPLETION OF
WORK IN THIS .AREA
The party of'Agricultural Specialists,
headed by Dr. O.S. Aamodt of the Bureau of
Flant Industry, Washington D.C.f are near
ing the completion of their work in this
area. Members of the party returned this
week from the Kenai Peninsula and Aleutian
Islands and are compiling their reports of
their rescarh work.
Dr. O.S. Aamodt has released, this infor
mation in regard to the purposes and gen
eral. objectives of this exploratory inves
tigation.
This rescarh is being made at this timo as
a result of the passago of the Appropria
tion Bill, Department of Agriculture, for
the fiscal year of 1947, which provided
for an Agricultural Research Administra
tion, for exploratory investigations of
Agricultural problems in Alaska. Final
action on this provision remains to bo de
termined; but in anticipation of favorablo
action by Congress, it soomed advisable to
begin at once to make preparations for
this work as early as possiblo.
The purposes and general objectives of
the exploratory investigations are to de
termine the basic problems underlying po
tential agricultural development in ap
propriate areas of Alaska .as a guide to
future Departmental research in coopera
tion with the Alaska Agricultural Experi
ment Station end such other agencies as
nay bo Concerned and interested.
Farming in the Territory is being consid
crod as an auxiliary'to military, trans
portation, fisheries, forestry, and indus
trial development. Presont and potential
agricultural areas are to be examined in
order to determine their extent, relative
productivity, livestock requirements,
ability to support population, prospective
products, markets, and technical probloms
of development.
This group spont the first month at Fair
banks (June 15-July 15), the second month
at Palmer and tho Konai Pen insula (July
15-August 15) and the last part of the
work will be done in Southeastern Alaska,
After this work is completed,'this group
will return to Washington D.C, and moke
reports to Congress, Tfcris will be a basis
for determining what further research work
will be necessary.
Dr, 0,S. Arnnodt oxprosees his appreciation
for the fine cooperation that they'have
received everywhere thoy have been. Every
one has boon most kind in loaning thorn
cars and giving them every possible assis
tance in their work.
The findings of the Research work of course
will not be mado public before the report
"Is made to Cohgrcss, but Dr, Aarnodt did
say that they believed that Matanuska
Valley to bo one of the most‘promising
agricultural areas in Alaska,
It is regrotted that it was necessary to
call off the proposed informal discussion
mooting that was scheduled this VJednosday
evening; in the Grange Hall,
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