2020 Century Farm applications due May 31

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2020 Arkansas Century Farm program, which recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. Online and printable applications are available at www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansascentury-farm-program. There is no cost to apply.

“Arkansas Century Farm families have persevered challenges for at least 10 decades and have contributed greatly in making Arkansas agriculture the success story that it is today,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas secretary of agriculture. “As Arkansas’ largest industry, agriculture has an economic impact of over $21 billion annually and provides one of every six jobs in the state.”

To qualify, Arkansas farms must meet the following criteria:

• The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by Dec. 31, 2020. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings and nephews or nieces, including through marriage and adoption.

• The farm must include at least 10 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

Arkansas is home to more than 42,500 farms, of which 97 percent are family-owned and -operated. Since the Arkansas Century Farm program began in 2012, 464 farms have been certified as Century Farms. Find lists of previously inducted Arkansas Century Farm families at the website listed above.

For more information, contact Mary Elizabeth Lea at (501) 219-6363 or mary elizabeth.lea@agriculture.arkansas.gov. Applications must be postmarked by May 31 for farms to be eligible for designation as 2020 inductees.