May 2019
Farm to School Bill

Governor Asa Hutchinson  signed the Farm to School Bill, April 4, that was sponsored by State Representative Mary Bentle y. The bill establishes a program that will improve the health of children through the support of: school gardens; food, nutrition and agriculture education; and the procurement of local farm or food products for school meals and snacks.
Pecan Month

Governor Asa Hutchinson  p roclaimed April as Arkansas Pecan Month during a ceremony at the Capitol, April 15. Pecans, the official state nut, have contributed an average of $10 million to the state's economy in the past five years and are exported from Arkansas internationally to China, Europe, and Asia.

Learn more about the importance of pecans in Arkansas here .
Wildfire Suppression Kit Program

Arkansas Agriculture Department's  Forestry Commission presented a Wildland Firefighting Suppression Kit to  Center Ridge Vol. Fire Department , April 15,  as part of the Rural Fire Protection program. If you would like to learn more about the program, check out the video where Kathryn Mahan-Hooten, Rural Fire Protection Administrator, and Danny Coffman, Center Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Chief, discuss the equipment and the program.
Joint Training with Forestry Commission

Arkansas Agriculture Department's Forestry Commission hosted joint training with  Gravel Ridge ,   Sherwood , and North Little Rock Fire Department s  to be better prepared to assist and fill the aerial tankers if the need arises. The tankers hold approximately 500 gallons of water that can be dropped on a wildfire to extinguish it.

Retirement
Congratulations to Steve Bostian, agricultural specialist with Arkansas Agriculture Department's Plant Board, who is retiring following 41 years of service.
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture, Wes Ward, and USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Greg Ibach, at the Farm Policy Summit hosted by Arkansas Farm Bureau.
Sustainable Forestry & Wood Products For the Future Summit
State Forester, Joe Fox, speaks to attendees of the Sustainable Forestry & Wood Products For the Future Summit at Ouachita Baptist University, April 8. Representatives of forestry, academia, economic development, government and communities attended the summit.
Century Farm Applications Due May 31

The AAD is accepting applications for the 2019 Arkansas Century Farm program through May 31. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. Online and printable applications are available here . There is no cost to apply.
Deadline for Fair Premiums is May 31
Contact Mary Elizabeth Lea for any questions you may have and to submit your request.

501-219-6363
Smokey Bear 75th Birthday
Contest Winners

The winning classes of the Smokey Bear 75th birthday Shoutout contest are:

FBC Warren Christian School (K-3), Warren
McHorse Christian Academy (Pre-K), Lockesburg
Bradley Elementary School (4), Bradley
Langston Leadership Academy (K&4), Hot Springs
Holcomb Elementary School (K&1), Fayetteville
Martin Luther King Elementary (2-5), Little Rock
Alma Spikes Elementary School (2), Pocahontas
Arkansas Grown

The Arkansas Agriculture Department exists to serve and promote Arkansas agriculture, our state’s largest industry. Our goal with each edition of Arkansas Grown is to provide you an overview of the breadth and diversity of Arkansas agriculture and the families that make the industry possible.
Arkansas Ag Fact: Dairy

  • In the state of Arkansas, there are 42 licensed dairy herds.
  • Arkansas dairy farms produced approximately 8.6 million gallons of milk in 2018.
  • Arkansas farms generate approximately $16 million in milk sales annually.
  • In Arkansas, the average dairy cow produces about 4.1 gallons of milk per day. That’s more than 1,512 gallons of milk over the course of a typical year.
  • Arkansas has 3 plants that process one or more dairy products.
  • It takes about 48 hours for milk to travel from the farm to the dairy case.

Source: Midwest Dairy, 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, Arkansas Milk Program
Arkansas Grown T-shirts

Arkansas Grown t-shirts are $15 and available in sizes YS-Adult XXXL. There is a $2 handling fee for shipped orders. Send your name, size and address to marketing@agriculture.arkansas.gov. .