Governor Hutchinson Declares November 21-27 as Arkansas Turkey Week |
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During a recent ceremony at the State Capitol, Governor Hutchinson joined agriculture leaders, industry partners, and 4-H and FFA representatives in declaring November 21 to 27 as Turkey Week in Arkansas. The Turkey Week proclamation highlights the state’s turkey industry and its value to Arkansas’s economy and agriculture industry. The full proclamation can be found at https://bit.ly/3r2Wjhb.
“The poultry industry is one of Arkansas’s many great success stories. We put turkeys on tables all over the United States. Our ranking as the second-largest producer of turkeys is testimony to the hard work of our farmers. Young people such as Jackson Barber and Jackson Moore, who raised the turkeys for this year’s reading of the proclamation, ensure that this segment of our agricultural industry will continue to thrive,” said Governor Hutchinson.
Each year, agriculture contributes more the $19.4 billion in economic value to the state.
“The poultry industry, which includes turkey, chicken, and eggs, is an important part of Arkansas’s diverse agricultural landscape, representing more than 46 percent of our state’s total agricultural cash receipts,” said Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “We are thankful for the farmers who provide this protein throughout the entire year.”
Holly Duval, director of marketing and business development for The Poultry Federation, added that Thanksgiving week is the perfect time to recognize everyone involved in making Arkansas the second largest producer of turkeys in the nation. “Thank you to our dedicated farmers, who raise 31 million turkeys per year, and industry leaders, like Cargill and Butterball, for their impact on our state,” she said. Learn more about the Arkansas turkey industry and its economic impact at thepoultryfederation.com/resources/facts-figures.
The proclamation featured two live turkeys, a Spanish Black owned by Jackson Barber of Austin and a Holland White owned by Jackson Moore of Waldron.
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The Arkansas Department of Agriculture's
Annual Report is Available Now!
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report provides information about the Department and how it served Arkansas agriculture, our state's largest industry, from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Click here to view the 2021 Annual Report. |
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Annual Shade Trees on Playgrounds Program Provides Added Shade on Local Playgrounds
Highland Preschool in Highland recently hosted its 2021 tree planting ceremony for Shade Trees on Playgrounds (S.T.O.P.), a program of the Arkansas Forestry Division.
Highland is one of 10 schools selected this year to participate in the program.
The S.T.O.P. program aims to lower adult skin cancer risk by reducing childhood exposure to direct sunlight on school playgrounds and open green spaces.
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Deadline Extended for
Arkansas Farm to School Grants
The deadline to submit an application for the Arkansas School Garden Grant Program and the Arkansas Taste Test Grant Program has been extended to Friday, December 10, 2021. Applicants are welcome to apply for both grant opportunities through the same application.
The grant programs were established by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture to help schools start or expand farm to school activities. The grant programs are available to public and private K-12 schools, early childhood education facilities, and alternative learning environments. All eligible schools are encouraged to apply, whether they already have existing farm to school activities or they are just getting started with school gardens and local procurement.
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Buffalo River Conservation Committee Meeting in Marshall
The Buffalo River Conservation Committee (BRCC) met in Marshall on November 30th. Committee members and attendees, which included Senator Missy Irvin and Representative Jack Fortner, were updated on the progress of projects funded by the BRCC. The group was also given an overview of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
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Holiday Shopping Season is here!
The Arkansas Made program, administered through the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, promotes products made in the state. When consumers see the Arkansas Made label on a product, they know immediately they are supporting Arkansas makers by buying a product made locally.
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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Provides Update During the 87th
Farm Bureau State Convention
Secretary Wes Ward provided an update to the joint meeting of the Arkansas House and Senate Committees on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development during the 87th Arkansas Farm Bureau State Convention held in downtown Little Rock.
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Dan Douglas, Director of the Arkansas State Meat Inspection Program for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, shared the Department's timeline and details for the launch of this new inspection program. |
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Karen Reynolds, Grants & Program Manager for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Marketing and Communications Section, spoke on the value to farmers, ranchers, and producers of participating in the Arkansas Grown, Arkansas Made, and Homegrown By Heroes programs. |
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Family members of FloRa Farms in Conway County were inducted into the Arkansas Century Farm program in 2020, but could not attend the ceremony.
The family was able to gather and celebrate this Thanksgiving and shared this photo with their Arkansas Century Farm sign.
The Arkansas Century Farm program recognizes Arkansas’s rich agricultural heritage and honors families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years.
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The Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Committee convened recently at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. The mission of this Committee is to oversee the program budget and activities of the Arkansas Boll Weevil Foundation. |
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The Arkansas Department of Agriculture's annual Christmas Tree, an Eastern Red Cedar donated by Craighead County Ranger Chris Pfeifer, was delivered December 1.
The tree was cut on Pfeifer's property in Jonesboro and delivered to the Department by (left) Craighead County Forest Trainee Lee Chambers and (right) County Ranger Bill Tripp.
The tree was decorated with handmade ornaments crafted by each Division within the Department.
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Staff members of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Division received training to improve presentation skills to help presenters better provide information to the public.
Thank you to Tabbi Kinion, Chief of Education with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium’s Certified Public Manager’s Program, for making the training possible.
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Farm to School Coordinator Announced!
We are excited to announce that Erica Benoit has accepted the position of Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator. Before moving into this new position, Erica was the Department's State School Garden Manager.
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USDA awards two Arkansas companies $1.37M in grants to study food market options for local, regional businesses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded two Arkansas companies a total of $1.37 million in grant funds to strengthen and explore new market opportunities for local and regional food businesses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture received $622,797 to develop a program that prolongs the shelf life of crops harvested by local farmers.
Winrock International was awarded $750,000 to research value chains and build capacity in the farm-to-food assistance channel, which connects local farms with food insecure communities.
The awards are a fraction of the $75.4 million allocated for 172 projects across the country that benefit farmers markets, supply chain activities and more. Federal funding is made possible by the Agricultural Marketing Service as part of the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs.
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2021 Arkansas Grown
With over 20 features about Arkansas agriculture, there’s something for everyone. You can view the magazine online here, find a physical copy at various locations around the state, or request a copy!
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Weekly Market Summary
Each Friday, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture publishes a comprehensive Weekly Market Summary, which includes the Arkansas Weekly Livestock Auction Summary and Related Individual Market Sale Summaries, National Weekly Rice Summary, Memphis Weekly Feed Report, Weekly Rice, Grain, Cotton, and Feed Futures Trends, Weekly Livestock and Milk Futures Trends, Bid Prices to Farmers, Arkansas Daily Grain Report, Heading Links for Historical Data, and news.
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Follow us on social media!
For the latest in Arkansas agriculture, be sure to follow us on social media! Links to our social media pages can be found here.
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Find a career in Arkansas's largest industry!
Are you passionate about Arkansas agriculture? With many new and exciting career opportunities, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture is looking for highly motivated individuals to bring their passion for the Arkansas agriculture industry to the workplace. Check out our available positions today on the AR Careers website by searching for "agriculture" or "natural resources."
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Arkansas AG Facts: Century Farm Program |
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- Agriculture is Arkansas's largest industry, contributing $19.4 billion to the state's economy annually.
- Agriculture provides almost 268,950 or one out of six jobs in Arkansas.
- Jobs in agriculture, forestry, and related enterprises contribute more than 16.4 percent of the state's total labor income.
- Arkansas has 42,300 farms.
- The Arkansas agricultural industry's achievements would not be possible without the dedicated, efficient, and innovative Arkansas farm families who work tirelessly to provide food, fiber, and shelter here at home and abroad.
- The Arkansas Century Farm Program was established in 2012 to honor farm families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. These farms embody Arkansas’s rich agricultural heritage and highlight the deep family ties and important historical relevance of agriculture in the Natural State.
- Since 2012, over 494 Arkansas farms and families have been inducted into the Century Farm Program, including 30 farms added this year.
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