Small airports matter to agriculture | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Arkansas is the nation's rice leader, producing nearly half of all American rice and exporting more than $400 million annually. The state's success depends on infrastructure often overlooked: a network of small airports and general aviation that keep crops healthy, productive, and competitive. Aerial applicators can cover up to 1,600 acres per day, three to four times faster than ground equipment; about 62 percent of pre-flood rice acres receive aerial herbicide applications. General aviation airports in Arkansas generate more than $467 million in annual economic activity, and first-year aerial applicator pilots can earn over $75,000, supporting rural families.