Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Improving Agriculture, Research, Cultivation, Timber, and Indigenous Commodities (ARCTIC) Act, legislation that will strengthen a variety of Farm Bill provisions to better address needs in Alaska.
The “Farm Bill” is enacted every five years to address a variety of agricultural and food programs over twelve titles covering support for commodity and specialty crops and floriculture, conservation, agricultural trade and research, nutrition assistance for low-income Americans, farm support programs, rural development, forestry, and more.
This bill is supported by the Reindeer Herder’s Association (RHA). Nathan Baring, Program Director of the RHA states “Kawerak’s Reindeer Herders Association applauds the work of our senior Senator, Lisa Murkowski, in introducing this bill, delivering on our long-term work to promote the in-region, tribal capacity for permitting and producing value-added reindeer meat products to address both market demand and food insecurity in our region. Northwest Alaska bears some of the highest retail food costs in the nation. Kawerak’s RHA is proud to support this bill which provides a tangible, positive step toward promoting food security for our region, our tribes and beyond.”
Photo from 2018 annual meeting
Many other Alaskan organizations also support this Act. You can read more here : Murkowski Introduces “Improving ARCTIC Act” to Secure Wins for Alaska in Farm Bill (senate.gov)
