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The Official Website of the State of Arkansas

Events

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News Releases

Reminder: Public Comment Deadline for Water Financing Rules

29/04/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting public comments on proposed amendments to water financing rules, including the creation of a new grant program. Comments will be accepted through May 5. The proposed amendments update existing rules to incorporate the new Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Matching Grant Program, update regulatory language, and improve processes for communities seeking water‑related funding and approvals. Comments may be submitted by email or mail through the deadline. More information about the proposed amendments and how to submit comments is available online here. The new Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Accepting Proposals for 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant

24/04/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) through May 8, 2026. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), this program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of Arkansas’s specialty crop industry. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as fruits, vegetables, horticulture, floriculture, and tree nuts. Eligible applicants include universities, institutions, cooperatives, producers, industry groups, community-based organizations, and individuals. Proposed projects must demonstrate the potential to benefit the broader specialty crop industry and/or the public, rather than a single organization or individual. Applicants are

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Arkansas Century Farm Program Now Accepting 2026 Applications

21/04/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR –The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Arkansas Century Farm Program. This program honors Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years, recognizing their contributions to the state’s agricultural heritage. Completed applications must be submitted online no later than July 31, 2026, to be considered for the 2026 induction cycle. The program is voluntary, and there is no cost to apply. To qualify, Arkansas farms must meet the following criteria: Qualifying farms will receive a personalized Arkansas Century Farm certificate and metal sign listing the

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Collects 242,015 Pounds of Unwanted Pesticides

07/04/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Abandoned Pesticide Program collected 242,015 pounds of unwanted pesticides during recent collection events in Clay, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Jackson, and White counties. With this year’s collection events, the program has safely removed more than 7.2 million pounds of unwanted pesticides since its launch in 2005. “The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is proud to work with our partners in administering the Agricultural Abandoned Pesticide Program,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “These collection events provide farmers and landowners with a safe, efficient way to dispose of pesticides they no longer

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Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest Now Accepting Entries Through June 26

06/04/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Farm Credit, is now accepting entries for the annual Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest. Schools, early childhood education centers, and alternative learning environments that operated a school garden during the 2025–2026 school year, or plan to begin one in 2026–2027, are encouraged to apply. “We’re proud to support a program that gives students such meaningful, hands‑on experiences,” said Greg Cole, President and CEO of AgHeritage Farm Credit Services. “When kids get the chance to plant, grow, and harvest food themselves, it opens their eyes

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Arkansas Beef Council Launches 2026 Arkansas’s Best Burger Contest

01/04/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR –The Arkansas Beef Council today announced the return of the Arkansas’s Best Burger Contest, a statewide effort to identify and recognize restaurants that exemplify quality in the preparation of 100% beef burgers. The contest reinforces the Council’s commitment to promoting high‑quality beef, supporting Arkansas cattle producers, and engaging consumers in celebrating the state’s beef industry. Arkansas is one of the nation’s leading cattle‑producing states, with thousands of family farms contributing to the state’s agricultural economy. Beef cattle are raised in all 75 counties, making the industry a cornerstone of rural communities. Cattle and calves consistently rank

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Urges Public to Stay Alert as Wildfire Risk Increases

26/03/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is urging Arkansans to stay alert as wildfire danger has increased significantly across the state. The entire state has been designated at a high wildfire risk through March 29, and more than half of all counties are currently under burn bans. This elevated threat is primarily driven by above‑average temperatures, extended drought conditions, and increased winds. At this risk level, fires can ignite easily, spread rapidly, and become difficult to control if not addressed immediately. Unattended brush fires and campfires are especially likely to escape containment. Wildfire risk levels are

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Hosts Sixth Annual Free Tree Fridays in Recognition of Arbor Day

19/03/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR –The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is celebrating Arbor Day by launching its sixth annual “Free Tree Fridays” campaign, a statewide effort to encourage tree planting. Free bare root seedlings will be available to Arkansans every Friday from March 20 through April 24 at locations across the state. “Free Tree Fridays embody the spirit of Arbor Day by offering people the opportunity to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees in their own backyards and in their communities,” said Kristine Kimbro, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator. “Rather than just celebrating Arbor Day once, we are excited to offer multiple

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Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board Approves $4.38 Million in Funding

18/03/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR –The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board approved $4,387,032.75 in funding for 96 research and promotion projects at its March 12–13, 2026 public meeting. The approved projects will support the growth and market development of Arkansas’s soybean industry. “The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board is entrusted with allocating checkoff funds and ensuring that investments are made to secure the tools and resources needed to support growth and competitiveness,” said Brad Doyle, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board Chair. “Each year, the board convenes to consider promotion and research project proposals and to determine which projects best benefit Arkansas’s soybean industry and

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Reminds Industry of Dicamba Use Restrictions

17/03/2026

LITTLE ROCK, AR –The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is reminding pesticide applicators and agricultural producers of important restrictions regarding the use of dicamba products during the 2026 growing season. In February 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new federal registrations for over‑the‑top (OTT) dicamba products for the next two growing seasons, accompanied by strengthened national restrictions. As part of this action, EPA removed all federal cutoff dates for OTT dicamba applications on soybeans and cotton. Arkansas’s state cutoff date of June 30 remains in effect. From April 16 through June 30, the application of registered in-crop dicamba products

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