Arkansas is the nation's rice leader. We produce nearly half of all American rice and export more than $400 million worth of rice annually to markets across the globe. This is more than just a number. It represents thousands of family farms, millions of hours of skilled labor, and a critical piece of America's food security and export economy.

Although current economic conditions are deeply concerning, we know Arkansas' success depends on infrastructure that often goes unnoticed: the small airports and general aviation network that help keep our rice crops healthy, productive, and competitive.

Here's why: Arkansas rice is grown in a unique environment. Much of it is cultivated in flooded fields, a method essential for controlling weeds and managing the crop. Once those fields are flooded, traditional ground-based farm equipment can't navigate the landscape without sinking into the mud and damaging the crop. That's where agricultural aviation becomes indispensable.

Roughly 62 percent of Arkansas' pre-flood rice acreage receives aerial herbicide applications; that percentage rises significantly when you account for fungicides and fertilizers applied mid-season. Aerial........

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