November Dedicated to Largest Row Crop in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Oct. 29, 2018) – Governor Hutchinson proclaims November Arkansas Soybean Month, recognizing the impact of the state’s top row crop, soybeans.
Ranked 10th in the nation for soybean production, the 3.5 million acres harvested last year in 41 of Arkansas’s 75 counties yielded 178.5 million bushels valued at $1.7 billion. Grown in more than 50 percent of the state, soybeans are the largest row crop in Arkansas, covering more acres than rice, corn, sorghum and wheat combined. “The miracle bean” is found in almost every aisle of the supermarket and hardware stores, biodiesel and more.
“We [the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board] created Arkansas Soybean Month to educate Arkansans about the more than 90-year history of soybeans in Arkansas,” Rusty Smith, chairman of the board and Prairie County soybean grower said. “We are proud of the work by our state’s soybean producers, and this month is one of the many ways we promote them and all facets of the industry.”
As the 2018 harvest continues, the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board (ASPB) is partnering with Arkansas-owned restaurants across the state during Arkansas Soybean Month for their educational food program, the Kitchen|Fields Table Tour. Developed to raise awareness about the soybean industry in Arkansas, the Kitchen|Fields Table Tour encourages Arkansans and all who visit the restaurants to eat soy foods and soy-fed protein, such as pork, beef, poultry and fish because of the essential nutrients and high-quality protein in their diets.
During the month of November, Kitchen|Fields Table Tour partner restaurants serve a featured dish dedicated to Arkansas soybean producers. To highlight Arkansas Soybean Month, the ASPB encourages patrons to post a photo of the various dishes and use the official hashtag, #ARSoySupper.
For more information about Arkansas’s soybean industry, the Kitchen|Fields Table Tour partners and the versatility of soybeans, visit TheMiracleBean.com. For more information about Arkansas Soybean Month, visit TheMiracleBean.com/Arkansas-Soybean-Month.
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Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board consists of soybean producers appointed by the Governor and nominated by various producer organizations within Arkansas. Although board members contribute many hours of their time to administering the program, they serve without pay.