-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DSdXTWSMJp7lasJKOBNPRMeppZilHGC9RKbV499Mvwynes6Z+sWH0RHNUR9hXd78
 pFpKvxWYIdsspLYIBjmdqw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001362146-06-000002.txt : 20060515
<SEC-HEADER>0001362146-06-000002.hdr.sgml : 20060515
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060515122321
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001362146-06-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060427
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060515
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060515

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARTS WAY MANUFACTURING CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007623
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3523]
		IRS NUMBER:				420920725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 288
		CITY:			ARMSTRONG
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50514
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7128643131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 288
		CITY:			ARMSTRONG
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50514

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			lynch james edward
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001362146

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05131
		FILM NUMBER:		06838426

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8186931585

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20331 FULLBRIGHT PLACE
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-04-27</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007623</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARTS WAY MANUFACTURING CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>artw</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001362146</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>lynch james edward</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20331 FULLBRIGHT PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATSWORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91311</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>artw</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>I WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ARTW ON 27 APRIL 2006.  I HAD PURCHASED 2300 SHARES OF ARTW ON 10 JANUARY 2006 ON THE OPEN MARKET AT $6.35 PER SHARE.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>james edward lynch</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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