The frontiersman., 1955-02-17
FARM FORUM RESUME E SHOWS ADVANCES
 MADE IN AGRICUL. TURF

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 Alaska's first Farm Forum, sponsored by the Matanuska Val ley Chamber of Commerce to rec ognize the 18th anniversary of the Extension Service in Alaska, brought together over 200 farm CTS, processors, and marketers from all parts of the territory.
 Don Irwin, chairman of the pro- gram committee, greeted the con- l ferees who met in the new Pal mer High School building. '"This is the first time in Alaskan agri- cultural history that the terri tory's far-flung farmers could get together to discuss their common concerns. Agriculture is Alaska's fastest-growing industry. To meet our growing needs for food and feeds we must solve some big problems transportation, land clearing, financing, marketing, re- search, he stated.
 Alaska is ideal livestock cOun- try, Dr. w. M. Beeson, first fea- ture speaker of the Forum and Purdue University animal hus- bandry expert, stated. Cattle, he said, do best at temperatures of no degrees or below they do least well at temperatures above | TO degrees. He recommended that Alaskan agriculture develop along intensive, rather than extensive, lines. Alaska should produce all its carbohydrates import only concentrated protiens, minerals and possibly some vitaminS. Fam ily-type farms, he said, are best for the Alaskan high labor cost economy.
 Study your problems scientifi- ! callY." He urged. Determine tbe limiting factors in very funda- mental way. You have good na- tural resources in land and eli mate for a livestock industry. Learn to supplement them 10 pro- duce marketable livestock pro- duct as milk and eggs.
 1T can see in the future quick freezing process for livestock feed. Quick-frozen semen will make artificial breeding by the worlds finest bulls a practical reality and that day is not far off. The production of fish meal concentrates should be an Alas kan industry Fishmeal has high CT protien content than any of the meals in common use today AL aska has abundant fish by-pro- ducts"
 Stresses Efficiency
 Dr. George D. Scarseth, direc- tor of research, American Farm Research Association, told Alas kan farmers that their problem is not essentially markets or outside competition. Your competition is with yourselves" he said, "and you must learn to be efficient or you will fail.
 Keep inc fertility of your soil high. Grow nutritious and abund- ant crops. People will buy and markets will come automatically Alaskan agriculture is an Al in. vestment opportunity for outside 1 capital, Scarsefh stated. America was built on borrowed money. Il ] will be good for outside capita and good for Alaska when long term. low interest loans are avail { able 10 Alaskan farmers.
 Lower your unit production costs" he urged. Alaskan farm. CTS can be as sufficient as any in the world. You have a great asset in the long daylight of youl growing season. The plant factory works overtime; it burns little food during the short, cool nights Big crops are good crops; quality and yield go together"
 Fertilizer Industry
 "Your Fertilizer Dollar, was the topic of talk given by Lee Fryer, manager of the fertilizer division of the Charles H. Lilly Company of Seattle. Alaska has the natural resources for balanced industry and agriculture" he said. Your abundant power DO tential makes the production of urea "a synthetic nitrogen) a flu ture industrial possibility. On all sides, oil is being sought. Oil re- fineries save a nitrogen by-pro- duct. Whenever oil refineries To-