AR HR1042

House of Representatives expresses appreciation to Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and foresters for their contributions to state and national economy and wellbeing

Nearly 20% of Arkansas's economy is based on food, fiber, and forestry, generating over $21 billion annually

Agriculture and food-related industries provide 260,000 jobs, employing 1 in every 6 Arkansans, with two-thirds of counties relying heavily on farming and forestry

Arkansas ranks in top 20 states for agricultural commodities, including top-5 production of rice, catfish, baitfish, broilers, turkeys, and cotton, and ranks 16th nationally in agricultural cash receipts

State contains 43,000 farms on 13.6 million acres and 19 million acres of forestland, with farmers providing wildlife habitat, environmental stewardship, and community leadership