Bill > SR5

This resolution, originating from the Alaska Senate, formally recognizes agricultural land as a vital and limited public resource, emphasizing the critical need to preserve it for both present and future generations. It highlights that this land is essential for food production, supports rural economies and livelihoods, and contributes to the state's long-term food security, especially given its reliance on imports and vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. The resolution acknowledges that farmland generates more public revenue than it costs in services, helps maintain fiscal balance for local governments, and protects irreplaceable soil and water resources. It also points out the loss of agricultural land to development and conversion to non-agricultural uses, citing a specific study showing significant farmland loss in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Therefore, the Senate encourages state agencies, local governments, landowners, and residents to support voluntary, incentive-based initiatives that conserve agricultural land, bolster farm viability, and promote its continued use, recognizing its importance for food security, economic strength, resource stewardship, and community resilience.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Resources (Senate)

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SR5