Historical Backround
Agricultural development in Alaska, although always present in some form or another, really began in earnest in the late 1970's.
Of the major areas identified for large scale agricultural development, the Nenana-Totchaket land was deemed the center of Alaska's most productive.
Approximately 175,000 acres of Class II and Class III soils are located on the broad plateau between the Tanana River on the East and the Kantishna River on the West. Additional agricultural lands of another 300,000 acres may be located west of Kantishna.
With assistance from the Alaska Legislature, several major studies have been completed. These include livestock and vegetable feasibility studies, a transportation study and studies relating to the utilization of forest resources. In addition, the Department of Natural Resouces has completed the Nenana-Totchaket Abbreviated Area Plan and soil surveys have been conducted by the USDA Soil Conservation Service.
Typical soil types for the project area are as follows.*
1) Nenana-Volkmar
- This type makes up about 29% of the project area. Elevations are from 300 to 500 feet. An average annual temperature of +26 F, 12" precipitation and at least an 82 day frost free growing period. These soils are well drained, nearly level to strongly sloping silt loams. The soils in this unit are potentially the most productive ones in the project area for farm crops. These soils are suitable for frost resistant vegetables, potatoes, barley, oats and grasses.
2) Teklanika-Beales-Nenana
- This type makes up about 22% of the project area. Elevations are from 500 to 600 feet. An average annual temperature of +26 F, 12" precipitation and at least an 82 day frost free growing period. These soils are excessively drained and lie on rolling to steep, wind-lain silt loams. These soils are well suited for cultivated crops and grasses.
3) Goldstream-Bolio-Kantishna
- This type makes up about 38% of the project area. Elevations are from 300 to 450 feet. An average annual temperature of +26 F, 12" precipitation and at least an 82 day frost free growing period. These soils are poorly drained silt loams with a thick surface mat of organic material. These soils are suitable as wildlife habitat.
4) Tanana-Salchaket
- This type makes up about 11% of the project are. Elevations are from 300 to 450 feet. An average annual temperature of +26 F, 12" precipitation and at least an 82 day frost free growing period. These soils are moderately deep, somewhat poorly drained silt loams. These soils are suitable for hardy vegetables, grains and grasses.
*Soil type information from 'Soil Survey of Totchaket Area Alaska', USDA Soil Conservation Service, 1980
