Celebrating Arkansas Agriculture All Month Long
Annual Arkansas Department of Agriculture cookout spotlights the economic value of the state’s beef, dairy, egg, and strawberry industries.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined agriculture leaders and industry partners today at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s annual cookout proclaiming May as Arkansas Beef Month, Dairy Month, Egg Month, and Strawberry Month. The proclamations highlight the state’s beef, dairy, egg, and strawberry industries and the value they contribute to Arkansas’s economy.
“We are so thankful for all of the people who work so hard to put food on our tables, and that agriculture continues to be the number one industry in the State of Arkansas,” said Governor Sanders. “Today, we get to celebrate that, we get to enjoy it, and we get to recognize the incredible work of the farmers and ranchers and producers from around our state."
“Arkansas’ beef, dairy, egg, and strawberry industries continue to demonstrate why agriculture remains our state’s largest and most diverse industry,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “May provides an opportunity to highlight these sectors of our industry and the producers who work every day to support Arkansas communities and maintain our position as a national leader in agriculture.”
Arkansas beef, dairy, egg, and strawberry industries demonstrate the continued strength and economic impact of the state’s agricultural industry.
- Cattle and calves consistently rank among Arkansas’ top agricultural commodities in cash receipts, valued at more than $824 million.
- The state’s dairy farms produce 26 million pounds of milk each year, valued at $6.2 million.
- Egg production contributes $824 million annually and more than 3.89 billion eggs, ranking Arkansas 9th nationally.
- More than 80 farms also support the specialty crop sector by cultivating 128 acres of strawberries.
Together, these industries reflect the depth and diversity of Arkansas agriculture and underscore the importance of recognizing them throughout May.
More than 450 agriculture industry stakeholders and partners attended the event. Special appreciation goes to Williams Baptist University, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, Arkansas Cattlewomen’s Association, Cal-Maine, Arkansas Berry Company, Holland Bottom Farms, and Hiland Dairy Foods for providing lunch.
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