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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Names 2025 Forest Stewards of the Year

06/11/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is proud to honor Pamela and Jim Jolly as the 2025 Forest Stewards of the Year. The Jollys have demonstrated exceptional dedication to forest stewardship on their 222-acre Patton Tree Farm located in Yell County. Patton Tree Farm is a certified tree farm, and the Jollys were named Arkansas Tree Farm of the Year in 2020. Their land has been managed under a stewardship-management plan since 2012, and the plan includes activities such as pine thinning, road maintenance, controlled burns, and the establishment of a permanent firebreak. The land includes

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Announces Winners of the 2025 Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest

31/10/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR – As Arkansas Farm to School Month comes to a close, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture joins Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in celebrating her proclamation designating October as Arkansas Farm to School Month by announcing the winners of the 2025 Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest. Throughout October, schools across the state have celebrated by highlighting their gardens and farm to school activities that connect students with local food and agriculture. “Hands-on learning is one of the most powerful ways students can bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world,” said Governor

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Appoints New State Veterinarian

29/10/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of Dr. Andrew Fidler as the new State Veterinarian, effective Monday, October 27. “Dr. Fidler brings extensive experience in animal health, regulatory science, and agricultural research that will be invaluable to the Department and to Arkansas’s livestock and poultry industries,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “Animal health is vital to the success of Arkansas agriculture, and we look forward to his leadership as we continue supporting producers across the state.” Agriculture is Arkansas’s largest industry, contributing more than $25.6 billion to the state’s economy

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Awards Grants to Strengthen Specialty Crop Industry

28/10/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has selected six projects to receive a total of $336,560 in funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program supports efforts to strengthen and expand Arkansas’s specialty crop industry. “These projects reflect the innovation and collaboration that continue to move Arkansas’s specialty crop industry forward,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “We’re proud to administer this program in Arkansas and support research and marketing efforts that help producers grow their operations and bring more Arkansas-grown products to consumers.”

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Arkansas Marks 40 Years of Groundwater Conservation Incentives

27/10/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture today announced the 40th anniversary of the Arkansas Groundwater Conservation Tax Credit Program, an initiative that has supported farmers, landowners, and businesses in conserving the state’s vital water resources since 1985. The program provides state income tax credits for projects that reduce groundwater use by promoting surface water alternatives and more efficient irrigation practices. Since its inception, landowners have invested more than $40 million in groundwater conservation projects through the program, helping protect aquifers and improve water use efficiency across the state. To mark the anniversary, the Department partnered with

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Ten Arkansas Schools Selected to Participate in Annual Shade Trees on Playgrounds Program

09/10/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has selected ten schools to participate in the 2025 Shade Trees on Playgrounds (STOP) program: “The STOP program gives students hands-on experience with planting and caring for trees while teaching them about the vital role trees play in our communities,” said Kristine Kimbro, Urban & Community Forestry Program Coordinator. “We’re excited to see these schools create lasting benefits for both students and their playgrounds.” Selected schools will receive up to five native shade trees, mulch, watering supplies, and planting guidelines. Participants must attend a virtual STOP workshop, incorporate curriculum on

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2025 Rural Fire Show Scheduled for Saturday, October 4

01/10/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Rural and Volunteer Firefighters Association will host the 2025 Rural Fire Show on Saturday, October 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Conway Expo and Event Center. The Rural Fire Show is a free annual event that recognizes Arkansas firefighters and their families for the vital service and protection they provide across the state. Attendees will have access to training sessions, equipment demonstrations, informational resources, networking opportunities, and more than 50 vendors. A catered lunch and door prizes will also be provided. “Rural and volunteer

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Arkansas Department of Agriculture Launches New Cost-Share Program to Support Reforestation Efforts in Southeast Arkansas

29/09/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) is opening enrollment for a new cost-share program aimed at helping landowners in Southeast Arkansas address forest health issues in intensively managed pine plantations. Applications will be accepted until November 21, 2025. In recent years, many pine plantations in this region have experienced a decline in forest health due to brown spot needle blight. The fungus causes distinctive brown discoloration on pine trees, which may deter landowners from replanting pine after harvest. The new program provides financial assistance to landowners for site preparation and reforestation of hardwood species, as

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Arkansas Hosts International Agricultural Attachés During NASDA Annual Meeting

19/09/2025

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Arkansas hosted a delegation of 33 international agricultural attachés from 24 countries this week in conjunction with the 2025 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Annual Meeting. The attachés represented nations across the globe, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, the European Union, France, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Lithuania, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Their visit highlighted Arkansas’s diverse agricultural production, research, and innovation while strengthening international agricultural trade relationships. “Arkansas is one of the top farming states

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Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward Concludes Term as NASDA President with Annual Meeting

17/09/2025

ROGERS, AR – Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward has concluded his term as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), where he led the organization through a year of record-breaking events, expanded international engagement, and strengthened collaboration on key agricultural issues. Ward’s presidency began in September 2024 and concluded with the 2025 NASDA Annual Meeting in Rogers, Arkansas. Over the past year, he represented state departments of agriculture at national and international meetings, highlighting agriculture’s role in securing our food supply and fueling economic growth. “Serving as NASDA president has been an honor and

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