The preliminary survey of the plant species of grazing value found in the several areas is reported . Some comments on management and other problems are included. The information given is restricted to a few sections. Although the flora is similar for those studied, additional islands must be studied before general application to other specific areas is attempted.

Over 10 million pounds of milk were produced in Alaska during 1953. Almost two-thirds of this was produced in the Matanuska Valley . Milk sales were greater than sales of any other farm product. During the year 1953, dairymen in creased herd size by an average of 3 milk cows. Most of this increase came from first calf heifers which brought with them lower milk production. About half of the dairy farmers sold over 125,000 pounds of milk per farm . The average dairy farmer had 288 acres of which 104 were cropland. Dairymen had 4.6 acres per animal unit in feed crops. The trend in use of cropland was toward more hay, silage and pasture and less grain, potatoes and vegetables. Dairymen have been increasing their acre ages of grass for hay and pasture. In 1953, 41 percent of the acreage cut for hay was a grass mixture. Purchased feed was the greatest single expense. It amounted to about one-fourth of total expenses. Machinery purchases were second and labor was third. Fertilizer , the fourth largest expense, amounted to $8. 50 per acre of cropland. Milk sales made up 88 percent of the cash income. The net returns from farming ranged from a loss of over $7, 000 to a net gain of over $14,000 . The average was $4, 843. Fifteen dairymen realized over $6,000 . Fourteen farmers who realized a high net return from dairying had 7 more cows and sold 2, 200 more pounds of milk per cow than the 14 farmers who had a low net return. Furthermore, they bought more fertilizer and realized more from each dollar spent for purchased feed. Average cost of keeping one producing cow for the y e a r, except for unpaid operator and family labor and interest on family capital, was $664.11 . It cost an average of $7.97 to produce 100 pounds of milk . The range was from $4,07 to $13.97 per hundredweight per farm .

Nearly 150 rural families produced potatoes in the Railbelt area of Alaska during 1952, Only a small proportion of these families were specialized potato farm ers. Since potato production is readily adaptable to part-time farming, many of these families grew potatoes on a part-time basis or as a minor enterprise, Twenty-four of the 83 farmers interviewed in the Matanuska Valley specialized in potato production with an average of 11 acres per farm. Thirteen of the 18 farmers in the Tanana Valley grew potatoes as a major enterprise averaging 16 acres per farm. Virtually all of the potatoes on the Kenai Peninsula were grown as a minor enterprise or as a part-time venture. As a source of farm income to Alaskan farm ers, potatoes ranked second only to dairy, A major portion of the money spent by potato farmers in both the Matanuska and Tanana Valleys was for improving service buildings and increasing equipment inventories in 1952, The net returns on 24 Matanuska Valley potato farms ranged from a loss of $5, 489 to a net gain of $8, 958 and averaged $3, 446c Three farmers lost money in their farm operations. Yield was the major factor influencing income from potatoes in 1952, Farmers with the higher net return obtained 6,8 tons of U„ S. No, l's per acre as compared with 4,4 tons obtained by farmers realizing less from farming. Both groups had approximately the same acreage of potatoes. Farmers with the higher incomes grossed more and spent less in their business venture than did farmers with lower incomes. Savings were incurred on hired labor, feed, seed, machinery repairs, fuel and oil, and fertilizer. Farmers with the greatest acreage of potatoes netted only $300 more than those with fewer acres. The form er averaged 14 acres of potatoes per farm and the latter 8 acres per farm. Labor costs for farmers with greater acreages were 3 times greater than those for farmers with the lesser acreage. The difference was $1,171, The potato yield per acre on 48 Matanuska Valley farms ranged from 0 to 8,7 tons of U,, Sc No, l ’ s and averaged 5,6 tons. Twenty-eight of these farmers reported above average yields. Local variations occurred among general areas as to both yield and management practices. Average yield was higher in 1 of the 3 general areas and another area used more fertilizer and seed than the third. However, the rates of fertilizer and seed used per acre have been increasing in all areas in recent years. A frost in August severely cut average yield in the Tanana Valley. Some fields were a total loss. In spite of the frost, average net returns on 10 potato farms were $4,019 which was about $600 more than Matanuska Valley potato growers realized. Potato farmers on the Kenai Peninsula were severely handicapped by lack of equipment. Many planted and harvested by hand. Potatoes were a common cash crop; 12 of the 19 farmers interviewed produced small acreaged.

The study reported here is one of a series designed to provide in formation on farm organization in Alaska for aiding economics development and expansion of permanent farm units. Records were obtained on 46 farm s in the Matanuska Valley and 4 farm s in the Tanana Valley; all were included in the 1950 study. Analysis is limited to a description of the general farm situation in 1951 and to a comparison with 1947, 1949 and 1950.