April, 2018
Governor Hutchinson proclaims March 20, 2018 as Arkansas Ag Day. See full release .

The Arkansas Bureau of Standards  presented at the Arkansas Oil Marketers Association annual trade show in Hot Springs.
Arkansas Forestry Commission personnel planted a River Birch tree at the District 1 Headquarters office in Monticello, to honor the memory of County Forester Johnathan Hartley. Wife Jolene Hartley and mother Andrea Hartley helped to plant the tree outside his former office. Johnathan continues to be greatly missed.
Arkansas Ag Fact:

Ag riculture is Arkansas's largest industry. On March 20, as part of Arkansas Ag Day & National Ag Day announcements and events, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture released " Pocket Facts 2017 ," which offers a profile of the economic contribution of Arkansas agriculture.

Arkansas ranks in the top 25 for the production of over 15 different agricultural commodities. We rank 15 th in the nation with $8 billion in total cash receipts from agriculture. Our top commodities in cash receipts are broilers (chickens) at $3.13 billion, soybeans at $1.43 billion, rice at $1.028 billion, cattle/calves $489 million, eggs at $485 million, turkeys at $434 million, corn at $394 million, cotton lint at $201 million, and hogs at $64 million.  

What is one way the AAD serves Arkansas farmers and ranchers?

The Plant Industry Division of the Agriculture Department's State Plant Board handles plants, plant materials, insects, and plant diseases, which includes a section dedicated to Plant Quarantine and Inspection.

The recently established statewide Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine began as a regional quarantine in 2014. As the Emerald Ash Borer (an invasive metallic green beetle 1/2 inch in size that attacks and kills all species of ash trees) was confirmed in sites across the state, it became necessary to establish the quarantine to attempt to slow the spread of the pest.