The Arkansas Department of Agriculture collected 242,015 pounds of unwanted pesticides during recent collection events in Clay, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Jackson, and White counties, according to a statement from the department. With this year’s efforts, the Abandoned Pesticide Program has removed more than 7.2 million pounds of unwanted pesticides since its inception in 2005.
“The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is proud to work with our partners in administering the Agricultural Abandoned Pesticide Program. These collection events provide farmers and landowners with a safe, efficient way to dispose of pesticides they no longer need while protecting Arkansas’s natural resources,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.
Corey Seats, Plant Industries Division Director, said: “These collection events provide an important service to producers across Arkansas, and we’re committed to working with partners statewide to ensure they operate efficiently. This effort plays a vital role in supporting our state’s largest industry.” The agricultural sector contributes more than $24.3 billion annually with about 37,400 farms spanning roughly 13.7 million acres in Arkansas, according to the official website.
The program offers these collection events at no cost to farmers and other non-industrial landowners. Funding comes from pesticide registration fees and events have been held in all 75 counties. Tentative plans for fall 2026 include serving Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Scott, and Sebastian counties. Commonly collected items include old or outdated pesticides such as calcium arsenate and sodium cyanide as well as registered products like glyphosate that are unusable due to exposure or age.
The Agricultural Abandoned Pesticide Program is conducted in cooperation with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Arkansas Farm Bureau, and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment. The department also oversees funding for research and market development in commodities such as rice and soybeans; promotes access to safe water supplies; maintains the Baucum Nursery for reforestation; honors outstanding forest management through its Forest Stewards recognition; and serves as a state agency focused on resource conservation and industry support—according to the official website.
More information about these initiatives can be found at the organization’s press release.
