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FAIRBANKS, ALASKA – Food security is a concern for all Alaskans. About 95 percent of the food purchased in Alaska is imported and the food supply chain is vulnerable to disruptions. Contributing factors are Alaska’s remote location, high transportation and fuel costs, and a limited growing season. 

Fortunately, there is growing interest in supporting local food systems and increasing local food production in and around Fairbanks and Interior Alaska. The midnight sun and long summer growing days supercharge crop production. If managed appropriately, farmers can produce an abundance of food.

Managing Soil Nutrients for Food Production

A critical part of managing crop quality is managing for healthy soils. Together, the Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are helping farmers improve soil health which has a direct connection to improved food production. 

Aleya Brinkman is an agriculture and natural resources specialist with Fairbanks SWCD who helps growers test their soil and manage their nutrients through a partnership with NRCS. She works with growers throughout Fairbanks and surrounding communities and serves as a valued technical resource and a liaison between producers and NRCS.

“It’s rewarding to see long term relationships develop and to help connect farmers to resources,” Aleya said. “My goal at the SWCD is to help people grow more food, whether that’s through nutrient management or better soil health practices.” 

Nutrient Management is a conservation practice recommended by NRCS that involves the four R’s—applying the Right Source; Right Rate; Right Time; and Right Place of nutrient application. Benefits of managing nutrients using the four R’s include higher crop quality, optimized crop yield, increased profitability, cost savings from not over-applying inputs, improving water quality by preventing leaching of excess nutrients into groundwater, and building more sustainable, healthy soil. 

Improving Crop Quality and Yield at Offbeet Farm

One of several producers Aleya works with is Sam Knapp of Offbeet Farm. Sam has been farming in Fairbanks for five years. He is originally from northern Wisconsin and previously farmed in the upper Midwest. Sam intensively farms just over one acre of cropland and can produce up to 25,000 pounds of produce in a year. He focuses on root vegetables and brassicas that grow well in cold weather, such as carrots, potatoes, beets, turnips and cabbage.

His operation is unique in that 99 percent of his crops go into long-term storage and are sold exclusively during the winter. Sam is an expert in cold weather vegetable storage and has authored a book on the topic. He also presents at workshops and events with the University of Alaska – Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service.

Sam operates his business as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription-based service and feeds about 130 families through the winter, between October and March. He also supplies cabbage to the school district at 250 pounds every three weeks throughout the school year.

Aleya has been working with Sam to understand the soil in his vegetable beds. She interprets lab results, makes nutrient recommendations, and facilitates access to soil amendments. 

“Finding local amendments or getting them shipped to Alaska is a challenge, so I’m appreciative of having Aleya as a resource to help,” Sam said. 

“It was really helpful getting the soil test,” Sam said. “There aren’t well-defined nutrient guidelines for Alaska, so having someone to help interpret the results and recommend applications was invaluable. It’s like free consulting.”

Sam intentionally manages for soil health and has adopted soil-friendly practices such as leaving the crop stubble on the ground after harvest to provide soil cover and organic matter. He minimizes tillage as much as possible and uses organic farming practices such as not applying pesticides or fungicides. He is working with NRCS on planting a cover crop of annual rye grass in between crop rows and managing soil nutrients using the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

“I’m a big believer that healthy soil ecosystems matter,” Sam said. “I started cover cropping as a means to generate organic matter. I started out at three percent organic matter and now I’m up to seven percent since doing the cover crops.”

Sam highly recommends other farmers to work with NRCS and the Fairbanks SWCD, especially for nutrient management. 

“Nutrient management improves the marketable quality of the food,” he said. “It’s a good farming practice. It helps you build on what you have to get a better crop and keep costs down. I’m making more money than I would if I didn’t use it.”

Managing Nutrients inside a High Tunnel at Growing Roots Farm

Aleya also works with growers who produce inside seasonal high tunnels or hoop houses. These structures consist of an arched metal frame enclosed with plastic sheeting, with walls at the ends. High tunnels create a controlled environment for crop production. They can protect crops from harsh weather, extend the growing season, and allow for production of a wider diversity of crops that otherwise may not grow well outdoors.

April and Mark Smurda grow food on their homestead in a high tunnel, outdoor raised beds, and a food forest. They also raise and sell heritage breed chickens, and they operate a farm stand that continues to grow in popularity and demand. 

April and Mark have been growing their farm for seven years. Their primary objective is to produce food for their family, including three children, and to live as sustainably as they are able. Realizing they produce an abundance, they started a farm stand a year ago and have enjoyed connecting their farm to the community and providing fresh, local food to their neighbors.

April and Mark worked with NRCS to install their high tunnel through the EQIP program and are also doing nutrient management as a conservation practice through EQIP. They are working with Aleya on a project to compile a guidebook of best practices for high tunnel installation and management in Interior Alaska. The guidebook will include feedback from high tunnel producers in the area and help future high tunnel operators better understand and navigate challenges and benefits of high tunnel farming in Interior’s unique conditions.

April and Mark are working with Aleya on nutrient management practices within their high tunnel. They grow a wide variety of crops in the tunnel such as corn, zucchini, cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, basil, lavender, garden huckleberries, and more. 

“The soil testing makes it easier for me, so I can better understand my soil,” April said. “Aleya helps me interpret the results, so I know what I need, how much I need, and where to find it.” 

April says she has noticed a dramatic difference in crop quality and production since working with Aleya. 

“I’m starting to build a nutrient history to work from. Productivity is increasing every year,” April said.  

Growing Partnerships with Other Producers

Both Offbeet Farm and Growing Roots Farm are mentors in an exciting new program called AFFECT—the Alternative Fairbanks Farming Educational Cooperative Training Program. The program just finished its second year in 2025 with 14 farmers who graduated from the program. 

AFFECT provides growers with 14-weeks of training throughout the summer to learn from other farmers in the community. Participants attend weekly workshops and hands-on training events with other farmers where they learn about farm finance and business, infrastructure development, and skills needed to grow in Interior Alaska’s unique climate. 

April and Sam hosted participants on their farms this summer and shared their knowledge, including information about nutrient management and USDA assistance.

The program is spearheaded by Mel Sikes, Natural Resource Education Specialist with the Fairbanks SWCD.

“My goal is making connections and to get farmers talking to one another and to the agencies and organizations that can help them,” Mel said. “Having strong, local community connections where we can learn from one another and practice mentorship opportunities are necessary to succeed.”

As more partnerships continue to take root and grow, so does community connection and a shared vision to overcome food security challenges in Alaska. Partnerships like the one with NRCS and Fairbanks SWCD are integral to the vast, interconnected web of conservation and community.

Related Links to Learn More

• Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District:  https://www.fairbankssoilwater.org/
• AFFECT Project:  https://www.affectfarm.com/
• Offbeet Farm:  https://offbeetalaska.com
• Beyond the Root Cellar:  https://offbeetalaska.com/book
• Growing Roots Farm:  https://www.facebook.com/GrowingRootsFarm/