AKconvo

Casey talks with Bryce Wrigley the CEO and owner of the Alaska Flour Company. The Alaska Flour Company is a large barley operation located in the interior around Delta Junction and traces its roots to the Alaska Barley project. Bryce moved to Alaska to take advantage of available resources and has now been participating in Alaska's Ag sector for nearly 40 years. Casey and Bryce discuss the challenges of producing in Alaska, food security, and how the Flour Company takes advantage of value added products to increase revenue and opportunity. Bryce describes the type of person required to farm in Alaska and gives his ideas for how future AG projects might be structured to be more effective.

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Pick up a copy of Patrice's book here (https://amzn.to/38fMBvI)

Patrice Gopo is the author of All the Colors We Will See, Reflections on Barriers, Brokenness, and Finding Our Way. Patrice grew up in Anchorage and they discuss memories and experiences from then including why Alaska can become an identity. The conversation turns to race and each person telling their story. There is an interesting back and forth about how we use categories and ancestry to form our social groups and if there is any validity to it.

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Ed King, Principle of King Economics group and former chief economist for the State of Alaska joins AKconvo to discuss forecasting, modeling, and the economy of Alaska. Casey and Ed discuss where economists get their numbers, how economists can get it wrong, and a $100 Billion Permanent Fund. There is an interesting discussion about what economics struggles to measure, such as well-being and satisfaction.

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Casey talks with Brad Keithley, the managing director of Alaskans for Sustainable budgets. Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets advocates for Alaska to have a balanced budget while maintaining the permanent fund dividend. The two discuss what has led to the current budget deficit including production declines, price declines, and changes to the tax structure. Brad makes the case for the PFD, discusses the differences in the Alaska Royalty structure, and the regressive nature of PFD cuts. The two end up debating the necessity of new revenues and the likelihood a flat tax could remain flat.

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Casey speaks with Professor Doug Reynolds, he is a professor of resource economics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Doug discusses his recent opinion piece for the Anchorage Daily news where he explains how Alaska develops its resources responsibly. The two discuss the concerning trend of large financial institutions avoiding investment in Alaska. Dr. Reynolds makes a tongue and cheek argument for large banking institutions relocating to Fairbanks. He gives examples of large corporations signaling environmentalism while practicing the exact opposite in their operations. Professor Reynolds explains how shale oil differs from oil produced in Alaska, challenges facing development, oil taxes, and a smaller in state natural gas pipeline.

The ADN article

https://www.adn.com/opinions/2020/01/01/does-goldman-sachs-really-think-it-can-divest-from-climate-change/

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Casey speaks with Craig Medred of Craigmedred.news Craig discusses his ideas concerning the future of the fishing industry in relation to the increases in farmed salmon. The fishing industry is seeing rapid and increasing changes due to advances in aquaculture. Casey and Craig discuss what that might look like for our local fisherman, the impacts that could be felt in communities and a little bit about preparation. Other topics discussed include changes in the media market, environmentalism, finding your Alaska Adventure, and changes in Alaska.

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Casey speaks with Rick Whitbeck for Power the future Alaska. Rick is the state director for Power the future, and has over 30 years experience in Alaska policies including involvement in the past with Stand for Alaska. Power the future focuses on giving a voice to energy workers. Rick describes the benefit of developing Alaska’s resources such as oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), timber harvest in Southeast, and large mines to include the development of the Ambler Mining district, Donlin, and the Pebble Project. Rick makes the argument some environmentally focused groups are harming prosperity and opportunity in our rural communities. The two touch on employment compositions in different industries, out of state workers, education and a lively discussion takes place particularly involving the Pebble project.

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Casey talks with Matt Schultz, pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage. The topic of discussion is Empathy in Budgeting. Pastor Schultz makes the claim empathy should guide our decisions when considering where to allocate public dollars. Casey pushes back a bit on the limits of what empathy can accomplish. The two discuss what it means to feel empathy, the difference in individual and collective empathy, and implications for State budgets. Along the way the discussion addresses homelessness, caring for the elderly, education, and the minimum wage.

The discussion centers on two articles written by Matt (he has many more just search his name at ADN.com)

https://www.adn.com/opinions/2019/08/14/in-budgets-and-in-life-lets-define-ourselves-by-empathy-and-compassion/

https://www.adn.com/opinions/2019/04/08/government-shouldnt-be-a-business-its-about-people-not-profits/