Booming Arkansas Industry: Agriculture
By Arkansas Next on Monday, October 25, 2021
► In the past six years, there have been more than 80 economic development projects in the food and agribusiness manufacturing industry, creating more than 4,200 new jobs and more than $2 billion of proposed investments.
► Agriculture is Arkansas' largest industry, adding $16 billion to the state's economy each year.
(Arkansas Economic Development Commission)
Meet The Pro
► Poultry production is responsible for 25% of the agriculture jobs in Arkansas.
(Arkansas Economic Development Commission)
► The poultry and egg industry in Arkansas employs as many as 55,407 people across the state and generates an additional 114,433 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. These include jobs in companies supplying goods and services to the industry. In fact, in 2020, the industry was responsible for as much as $40.4 billion in total economic activity throughout the state, creating or supporting as many as 169,840 total jobs.
(U.S. Poultry & Egg Association)
► Timber’s impact on the state economy totals $405 million.
► Arkansas ranks 2nd in lumber production in the South and 4th in the nation
(Arkansas Economic Development Commission)
Arkansas’ Top Agri Exports
1. RICE (#1 in nation)
84.3 million hundredweight
2. COTTON (#3 in nation)
1.4 million bales
3. POULTRY (#3 in nation)
1 billion birds
4. SOYBEANS (#10 in nation)
128 million bushels
5. WHEAT
5,200 bushels
Agriculture and forestry use more than 95% of Arkansas’ land resources.
• 18.8 million acres of forest
• 14.5 million acres of farmland
• 8.3 million acres of livestock and hay
• 6.2 million acres of crops
(University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research & Extension)
► With 200 job openings each year, Arkansas is seeing a growing demand for agriculture equipment operators; 13% more jobs are projected to be added by 2028.
(bls.gov)
More Jobs in Agriculture
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating and harvesting crops
Education Level Needed: One or more years of on-the-job training
Median Salary in Arkansas: $32,640
Agricultural Inspectors
Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment and facilities
Education Level Needed: Associate degree or higher
Median Salary in Arkansas: $33,500
Animal Breeders
Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics and offspring
Education Level Needed: High school diploma/GED
Median Salary in Arkansas: $40,770
Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products
Purchase farm products either for further processing or resale
Education Level Needed: Associate degree or higher
Median Salary in Arkansas: $66,690
Conservation Scientists
Manage, improve and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment
Education Level Needed: Associate degree or higher
Median Salary in Arkansas: $64,020
Environmental Engineering Technicians
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test and operate equipment and devices
Education Level Needed: Associate degree or higher
Median Salary in Arkansas: $39,980
Farm Workers
Attend to live farm, ranch, open range or aquacultural animals
Education Level Needed: One or more years of on-the-job training
Median Salary in Arkansas: $24,920
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts or other agricultural establishments
Education Level Needed: High school diploma/GED
Median Salary in Arkansas: $58,690
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural and related workers
Education Level Needed: High school diploma/GED
Median Salary in Arkansas: $53,490
Food Science Technicians
Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products
Education Level Needed: Associate degree or higher
Median Salary in Arkansas: $41,830
Forest and Conservation Technicians
Provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests or related natural resources
Education Level Needed: Associate degree or higher
Median Salary in Arkansas: $46,120
Landscape Architects
Plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities
Education Level Needed: Associate degree or higher, Apprenticeship
Median Salary in Arkansas: $59,430
Loggers, Fallers and Harvesters
Cut trees with hand-held power chain saws or mobile felling machines; harvest thousands of acres of forests
Education Level Needed: High school diploma/GED
Median Salary in Arkansas: $32,560
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors and soil incorporation
Education Level Needed: High school diploma/GED
Median Salary in Arkansas: $30,760
Precision Agriculture Technicians
Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production
Education Level Needed: Associate degree or higher
Median Salary in Arkansas: $41,970
Growing Demand for Agri Pros Nationwide
"Arkansas is one of the few states where average per capita farm income exceeds non-farm per capita income." That means agri pros are earning good money compared to their peers.
"In the next 50 years, farmers around the world will have to feed more people than we did the previous 100 years."
It's easy to find work in Arkansas' leading exports, many of which lead the U.S. in production. Harvest a healthy paycheck through a job in rice, soybeans, cotton and wheat — not to mention poultry, dairy, cattle, catfish, pork, forestry and horticulture careers. The options are seemingly endless in agriculture!
(Arkansas Farm Bureau)
