LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - To recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by Arkansas’s agriculture industry, Governor Hutchinson proclaimed March 20, 2018 as Arkansas Ag Day and presented the proclamation to Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward at a ceremony on Tuesday at the Arkansas Agriculture Department headquarters.
Governor Hutchinson’s Arkansas Ag Day proclamation is part of a series of events held across the nation as President Trump declares March 20 as National Ag Day.
“I join the President in recognizing the dedication and commitment of our agricultural producers within our state's largest industry,” said Governor Hutchinson at the ceremony.
Agriculture is Arkansas’s largest industry and contributes more than $21 billion to the state’s economy annually.
“Our diverse agricultural production includes livestock, poultry, aquaculture, row crop, specialty crop, and forestry,” said Governor Hutchinson in the Arkansas Agriculture Day proclamation.
Arkansas continues to be the top rice producer in the country and ranks among the top ten in broilers, soybeans, cattle, eggs, turkeys, corn, and hogs. We are also among the top 25 states for acres harvested in specialty crops including blackberries, dewberries, peas, okra, turnips, and more,” he says. Find the full Arkansas Agriculture Day Proclamation, here.
In Washington D.C., U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue introduced Vice President Mike Pence, who delivered remarks commemorating President Trump’s National Ag Day Proclamation.
“American agriculture is an integral part of our success as a Nation, uniquely tied to both our country's culture and economy. Today, and every day, we cherish our Nation's rich agricultural history and celebrate the greatness of the American farmer,” said President Trump in the National Agriculture Day proclamation, here.
Learn more about the National Day of Agriculture campaign, including agricultural resources for teachers and students, here.
Arkansas is home to over 43,000 farms across 13.7 million acres. We are also home to 19.2 million acres of forestland, which comprises 57% of the state's land area. One out of every six jobs in Arkansas is related to agriculture with agricultural operations in all 75 counties within the state.
“We are honored to have Governor Hutchinson at the Arkansas Agriculture Department Headquarters today to celebrate Arkansas agriculture and the personnel who have dedicated their careers to protecting and sustaining our state’s largest industry,” said Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward.
“Our producers work tirelessly to feed, clothe, and shelter those here at home and across the globe. We take our obligations to our producers and our state’s largest industry very seriously.”
