Kenai Peninsula District Office
The Kenai Peninsula District area includes 21 diverse communities with a total population of just over 60,000. The district serves communities from across the Cook Inlet in Tyonek all the way to Seward and south reaching Nanwalek and Port Graham. While some of the communities are off the road system, many are accessible by highway. Larger communities include Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, and Seward. While the Kenai Peninsula is known for its world-class fishing opportunities and stunning outdoors, it also ranks as the fastest-growing agricultural region in Alaska, with the number of farms increasing at almost three times the rate of the rest of the state.
Potato Scab Testing
Have scabby potato tubers in this year's harvest? The Integrated Pest Management Program at UAF in partnership with the Alaska Plant Materials Center is continuing to surveil the most prevalent species of Streptomyces bacteria causing common scab lesions across the state. Send your samples to us and we will get back to you with the testing results. Determining which potato scab species are found in Alaska helps us develop better recommendations for potato scab control.
What is common potato scab? (see more information on common potato scab)
Send two or three representative scabby potatoes to:
UAF CES, 43961 K-Beach Rd, Suite A, Soldotna, AK 99669-9728
Wrap potatoes in DRY paper towels or newspaper and place in a small sturdy box (small flat rate box is recommended) to avoid crushing. Please include your name, email, phone number, location, and variety of potato with your sample. If you are in the Kenai Peninsula area and would rather drop-off your sample, stop by the CES office on K-Beach Rd in Soldotna. If you have questions, please email camatney@alaska.edu
Soil Testing and Interpretation
Visit our soil testing page for all the information you need to test your soil and interpret how much fertilizer you need (plus free online calculators).
Spruce Bark Beetles: What you need to know
Spruce Bark Beetles are making an impact on spruce trees across the Kenai Peninsula. Visit the Alaska Spruce Beetle website then type "bark beetle" in the search box in order to:
- learn what bark beetles are and how they damage trees.
- learn bark beetle groups in Alaska.
- learn signs and symptoms of bark beetle activity.
- learn potential bark beetle threats to Alaska.
- become familiar with the vocabulary of bark beetles.
For even more information, view this Spruce Beetle publication.
Events
Monday - Thur., 9 am - 2 pm
Phone: 907-262-5824
