Booming Arkansas Industry: Agriculture

Agriculture by the Numbers

► 243,165 - total number of agri jobs in Arkansas in 2022

► Crops Planted In Arkansas In 2022

Soybeans - 3,180,000 acres planted
Rice - 1,106,000 acres planted
Corn - 710,000 acres planted
Cotton - 640,000 acres planted
Hay - 1,093,000 acres harvested
Wheat - 220,000 acres planted

► Agriculture/forestry use more than 97% of Arkansas' land resources

13.8 million acres of farmland
7.8 million acres of crops and hay
8.3 million acres of livestock
19 million acres of forest

► Arkansas Agri Rankings

1st - Arkansas is the No. 1 producer of rice in the U.S.
3rd in cotton production
3rd in broilers and turkeys raised
4th in catfish production
5th in timber production
8th in egg production
10th in soybean production

► 41,900 farms statewide

► 334 acres average size of an Arkansas farm

► 97% of Arkansas farms are family-owned

► Big Names, Big Businesses

Walmart — the largest food retailer in the world
Tyson Foods Inc. — The largest poultry and meat processor in the U.S.
Riceland Foods — The largest rice exporter in the U.S.

(Sources: Arkansas Grown by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, arfb.com, agriculture.arkansas.gov

Meet The Pros

Landon Casey
Agriculture Drone Pilot

Elijah Woodward
Agriculture Service Tech

More Jobs in Agriculture

Trade	What They Do	Education Level Needed	Median Salary in AR
Agricultural Equipment Operators	Operate agricultural machinery, like tractors, combines, plows, sprayers and irrigation systems.	On-the-job training	$37,780
Agricultural Inspectors	Inspect farms, agricultural products, processing facilities, and equipment to ensure guidelines are being met.	Associate degree or higher	$44,720
Veterinary Technicians	Assist veterinarians, perform medical procedures, and diagnostic tests, help with X-rays and more.	Technical certificate or associate degree	$30,000
Farm Buyers and Purchasing Agents	Responsible for getting the necessary equipment and supplies needed for agricultural operations (like seeds, machinery and fertilizers).	Associate degree or higher	$52,410
Conservation Scientists	Examine plants, animals, soil and water to figure out how to take care of them and recommend conservation practices.	Associate degree or higher	$64,460*
Environmental Engineering Technicians	Collect data, conduct tests, and maintain equipment to make sure air, water and land are safe to use.	Associate degree or higher	$40,400
Farmers, Ranchers and Agricultural Managers	Run the farm/ranch; make decisions about what to grow, when to harvest and how to keep everything healthy.	High school diploma or equivalent	$50,650
Supervisors of Farming, Fishing and Forestry Workers	Work for farmers/ranchers but supervise agriculture worker teams—assign tasks, monitor progress, ensure safety protocols are followed.	High school diploma or equivalent	$47,790
Food Scientists and Technologists	Like a chef who's also a scientist; make food better, safer and last longer by studying ingredients and cooking methods.	Associate degree or higher	$82,490
Forest and Conservation Technicians	Maintain natural resources and managing ecosystems; collect data on forest conditions, monitor wildlife and help with conservation; work on wildfire prevention, reforestation and public education.	Associate degree or higher	$46,950
Agricultural Engineers	Use science and technology to make farming better; create tools, machines and systems for farmers to grow more food, use fewer resources and protect the environment.	Bachelor’s degree	$83,260*
Fallers	Cut down trees using tools and techniques that ensure safety of people, other trees or surroundings.	High school diploma or equivalent	$39,310
Vegetation Pesticide Sprayers and Applicators	Use special tools to spray plants with chemicals that protect them and help them grow stronger and better.	High school diploma or equivalent	$34,210