Millennium Hotel-Anchorage
November 12, 2009
- Called to order at 8:15 P.M. by Delbert Simineo
- Present: Delbert Simineo, Bill Burton, Kathy Burton, Milan Shipka, Jane Hamilton, Scott and Ruby Hollembaek via teleconference.
- Quorum established.
- Ruby asked Delbert to conduct the meeting.
- Agenda: Milan moved to accept agenda as presented, Kathy seconded, motion carried.
- Feb. 2009 minutes: Ruby moved to accept, Delbert seconded, motion carried.
- By-Law review tabled-will be done at Spring meeting.
- Organic Conference: Patricia and Delbert went to the Chicago Organic Conference. The message was to “keep as organic as possible.” Kansas wheat farmers - $3-$6 per bushel non-organic price, $22 per bushel for organic. There is 1/3 less production. 70% of organic is NOT U.S. businesses. A large percentage of organic is not raised in America.
- Discussion regarding the fish waste application as a nitrogen supplement. There are trials in Homer, Mat-Su and Fairbanks. Gayle and Jim Eastwood contacted Sandro Lane regarding his fish meal waste operation. All of his product goes south to California. He not only makes fish meal fertilizer but also fish oil pills as a by-product. He cannot supply any more than he has at this time. There is stimulus funds to use organic fertilizer. The Deltana Corporation has been contacted and is willing to be the non-profit to write a proposal through for this. Bill Burton commented that the soil in Kodiak is very acidic. Milan commented Ming Chu might be interested in knowing more about the fish products, entrails as barges waste all of this at this time as they throw the product back to the ocean.
- NAEBA AI Elk progress: Northern Lights Elk Ranch AI’d 15 head of Elk this September. The bull measurement SCI was 460. Discussion followed regarding a pregnancy test, Delbert said that this is too stressful to the animal and is dangerous for the producer to handle. Milan commented that there is a blood sample that could be done further along in the pregnancy. Delbert put in another bull to cover any female that might not have gotten bred.
- Milan had 7 reindeer AI’d. There was a problem getting semen into Alaska because Alaska doesn’t have a Port of Entry. Delbert described the AI process he went through for the elk.
- Discussion about raffles and raising funds.
- Treasurer’s Report: Account balance $598.02. Have 9 paid members. What can we offer to people to encourage them to join? Jane Hamilton brought up that there was Alaska Farm Bureau funds for ADLA, Inc. but since no one requested them, the money was turned back to AFB. Ruby Hollembaek explained that she had known last year that they were going to allocate money but that AFB wanted to know what the money would be used for and since the ADLA, Inc. Conference is held every other year, she did not request the money in 2009.
- Current Member Roster: Kodiak Game Ranch, Alaska Interior Game Ranch, Wood Bison and Elk, Delta Meat and Sausage, Misty Mountain Elk Ranch, Robin Richardson (Global Food Collaborative), Dr. Milan Shipka (UAF), Northern Lights Elk Ranch, Jane Hamilton (lifetime member) and Mike Miller. NAEBA should also be current.
- Contact people to join ADLA, Inc.
- Change/lower membership dues? Discussion ensued that since there is a quorum to discuss changes in the by-laws and ratify them now instead of at a future meeting.
- Ruby explained that she had sent out flyers, notice and postcards from ADLA, Inc. monthly to the legislature since June of 2008. She had also sent out the postcards to various restaurants, tourist companies and Alaska companies that might have an interest in ADLA, Inc. such as meat processing plants. Mike’s Quality Meat out of Eagle River had joined in 2008. She believed this type of advertising has paid off to ADLA, Inc. producers with better sales for 2009.
- By-Law Changes: Article III. Not be limited. Change to Bison, Elk, Musk Ox, Deer and Yak.
- Article VI: Amended by the board of directors: 2/3 members of those members at a meeting with a quorum.
- Delbert moved to amend Article III.1.1 to promote responsible production instead of stating 5 species of animals raised for food and fiber raised in Alaska. Bill seconded, motion carries.
- Delbert moved to change to: producer of food or fiber animals. Bill seconded, motion carried.
- Section 2 Membership Annual Dues. Delbert moved to change to $35/year. Bill seconded, motion carried.
- Farm Forum in Delta on Feb. 27th: Ruby will try to get on the agenda to talk about ADLA and have a breakout session at the Trophy Lodge.
- 2010 Bi-annual Conference in the Fall of 2010 or Jan/February 2011. Delbert will talk with Division of Agriculture to try to find speakers.
- Milan moved to discuss the 2010 or 2011 symposium at the Delta Farm Forum breakout session. Assign people to start making arrangements. Motion carried.
- Reports from Members:
- Scott: Hides selling about 40% profit after paying tanning fees. Hunts in state-Juneau to Nome…
- Bill suggests raffle to raise funds.
- Meeting adjourned at 9:55 P.M.
ADLA, Inc.;
8850 North Simineo Circle
Palmer, Alaska 99645
