Farming/Ranching

AG Development and Ranching in Delta Junction, Alaska

Agricultural development began with homesteading in the Delta/Clearwater area in the early 1950’s. Farm sizes varied from 160-320 acres.  In April of 1978 the State of Alaska sold approximately 15,000 acres of agricultural land in the Tanana Loop area. Parcels ranged in size from 20-320 acres. This area was considered for dairy, other livestock and vegetable production.

Larger parcels of ag land were sold by the State in August of 1978. Twenty-two farms encompassing nearly 60,000 acres were released in parcels averaging nearly 2750 acres.  This area was considered for grain and forage production.  Another such sale occurred in March 1982 transferring about 25,000 acres of ag land in 15 farms to private ownership.

In total, Delta has over 130,000 acres of ag land in private farms.  They range in size from 20 acres to over 3,000 acres.

While the ag land was being developed, Delta farmers formed the Alaska Farmer’s Cooperative to provide grain handling and bulk fertilizer services.

Cleared land is tilled to incorporate crop residues into the soil and prepare seedbeds.  Precision drills are used to plant crops and firm the seedbed, resulting in uniform stands of grain crops, which are harvested by combines, either swathed or direct cut.  The grain is dried if necessary and stored in bins until sold.   Many local farms have grain drying and storage facilities as well as the Alaska Farmer’s Co-op. 

In past years the Schultz brothers, Scott and Mike, exported rail-car loads of Delta barley to Washington State. This was the first export of Delta barley out of Alaska for the commercial market.  Nearly all Delta grains are sold in Alaska as livestock feed.

Straw is a by-product of grain production, which is used as bedding material for livestock owners and dog mushers as well as a building material.

Other local crops include oats and grass-seed.  Oats and barley are sold as livestock feed. Much of the grass-seed is cleaned, processed and stored on local farms.  Grains, grass-seed, and other crops use basically the same equipment, thereby increasing efficiency.

Forage is a major crop in the Delta area.  There is approximately 10,000 acres of seeded grass hay, brome and timothy produced in the Tanana Valley.  The market for large round bales is expanding.  Modern mechanized haymaking is essentially a “hands-off” operation that even stacks the hay in the barn.  Local dairies are utilizing high-moisture bales wrapped in plastic that exclude oxygen and promotes fermentation.

Delta produces many acres of commercial potatoes.  The seed potato industry is developing an export market to Pacific Rim countries.  Potatoes are harvested, stored, graded, washed and bagged locally.

Irrigated crop production is increasing.  Special high value crops such as potatoes, vegetables & seed crops have been irrigated for a number of years.  Acres of irrigated forages are increasing.

Vegetable production is increasing in the Delta area.  A commercial carrot farm is expanding production here in Delta and shipment of carrots was exported to Taiwan for the first time in October 1999.  Delta has six commercial greenhouses selling bedding plants and vegetables.

Livestock production is expanding and provides the value-added industry for Delta’s grain and forage crops.  Improved genetics results in high quality beef.  Delta’s pork has a reputation of exceptionally high quality in the market place.

Delta Meat & Sausage is providing an important link for the area’s agricultural infrastructure.

Delta’s dairies are expanding which produces more milk and ice cream while also expanding the markets for Delta forage and grain.

Pleasure horses as well as guides and outfitters’ horses provide markets for Delta hay, grain and boarding facilities.

Exotic animal production is growing in Delta also.  We have two bison ranches, two reindeer ranches, four elk ranches, a Tibetan Yak ranch, and musk ox.