October 2018
Governor Asa Hutchinson proclaimed October Farm to School Month. The Arkansas Agriculture Department gathered with Farm to School Partners, School Garden of the Year contest winners and industry partners at the Capitol for the signing.
September was proclaimed Arkansas Rice Month by Governor Hutchinson. Arkansas Agriculture Department personnel joined the Arkansas Rice Federation, US Rice, and industry leaders at the Capital for the proclamation signing.
Governor Hutchinson proclaimed September Hunger Action Month. The Arkansas Agriculture Department was present with members of the Hunger Relief Alliance Board at the Capital for the proclamation signing.
The Arkansas Agriculture Department is accepting orders for the 2018 Arkansas Grown t-shirt. All t-shirts are $15 and are available in sizes YS-Adult XXXL. The children's design (pictured above right) is available in 3-24 month onesies and YS-YXL. There will be a $2 handling fee for any orders that are shipped. To order a shirt, please email your name, size and address to [email protected] .
The Arkansas Agriculture Department Law Enforcement Officers attended training in Nashville, TN. They are a part of the Southeast Law Enforcement Task Force, created from agriculture and forestry officers from across the Southeast. States represented this year were Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The Arkansas Forestry Commission  with The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Small Farm Program co-sponsored "Keeping it in the Family," a Champion Forestry Landowners training at the DeGray Lake Resort State Park on September 11 and 12. Several Arkansas Agriculture Department personnel participated as speakers at the event.
Urban and Community Forestry representatives held a Shade Trees on Playgrounds (S.T.O.P.) meeting to assist educators from the 11 schools selected to participate in the 2018 program. Representatives from each school were given educational resources and curriculum ideas outlining the benefits of trees in communities and how they reduce the risk of skin cancer. These classroom activities will be combined with a tree planting ceremony on each campus, which students will take part in later this fall. 
The Arkansas Agriculture Department's Forestry Commission donated a two-year old willow oak for the World War I tree planting ceremony hosted by Tree City USA on Friday, September 21 in Cotter.

In the Arkansas Grown blog, find narratives that capture experiences and offerings of Arkansas operations with locally grown and made products. Find this month's stories below:


Arkansas Ag Fact:

October is Pork Month! Swine is in Arkansas's top ten commodities in terms of cash receipts, producing $64 million in 2016.

The state produces more than $1.2 million hogs annually.

To learn more about swine production in the state, visit the Arkansas Pork Producers Association at www.arpork.com .
What is one way the AAD serves Arkansas farmers and ranchers?

October is National Farm to School Month. The Arkansas Agriculture Department gathered alongside State Farm to School partners and students at the Capital on October 10 for an official Arkansas Farm to School Month proclamation event with Governor Hutchinson.

Through the Farm to School program, farmers are connected with school districts across the state, providing another year round, customized market for farmers to sell.

The Arkansas Agriculture Department supports Farm to School through a collaborative partnership with the state coordinators and utilizes the Arkansas Grown and Made programs as a tool for school districts to locate fresh, affordable, farm fresh food.