Promoting Agritourism
Farmers and Ranchers Taking the First Step to an
Agritourism or Alternative Farm Enterprise
Mark Rose, Community Planning Specialist
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Resource Conservation & Development and Rural
Lands Division
Background
• Operated 1000 acre cash grain farm in Wyandot and
Hardin County Ohio until 1992
• Assistant Farm Manager of OSU,OARDC Hoytville Crop
Research farm.
• Crop Production, Agricultural Technical Institute,
Wooster, Ohio
• Agriculture, Ohio State University, Columbus
• 19 years with USDA NRCS
– 6 years: Soil Conservationist in Logan and Wyandot Counties, Ohio
– 13 years: RC&D Coordinator in Oklahoma and Maryland
– Community Planning Specialist, Washington, DC
National Survey on Recreation and the Environment
2000-2001
25,000 respondents
Farm Visits
•Most visited 1-5 times
•2 percent visited up to 20 times
•63 million people visited farms
•Spend an average of $45.00
•Travel an average of 80 miles
Keeping the family on
the farm and the farm
in the family
NRCS is providing for technical assistance to
keep families on the farm by assisting
landowners to assess the natural resources
on the farm and identify ways to use and
manage these resources alternatively or thru
tourism opportunities.
Under the leadership of
Jim Maetzold Taking the
First Step was published in
January 2004. This 54
page guide was developed
to be used by the farmer
or rancher considering
ways to improve farm
income.
Which way
to go?
Which way to go is a
question the farmer
may ask themselves
when looking at
something different.
Transition into a total new area
such as developing a corn maze for
tourism.
Expand the current operation of
pick your own.
Diversify and add a new
enterprise such as livestock.
Evaluating the Farm Resources
Soil
Water
Plants
Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
Livestock and Poultry
Air
Landscape
Buildings
Community
Family
Worksheets are included for each category of resources
considered.
Also as an example, the Future Family is included to help guide
the decision making process.
Additional Considerations
• Marketing Alternatives
• Legal and Liability Considerations
• Taking the Next Step
– Consider ideas for the farm or ranch
– Contact local technical resources
– Begin developing the business plan
Key Partners in Developing “Taking the First Step”
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
James Maetzold, NRCS Washington, DC
Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development Board
Boyd Byelich, NRCS District Conservationist, Michigan
Tom Lucas, RC&D Coordinator, Oklahoma
Andrea Clarke, NRCS Economist, Maryland
Carol Hollingsworth, PAS, NRCS Maryland
Jody Christiansen, NRCS Communications Specialist, Illinois
Sue Risbrudt & Karen Mulske, NRCS
Caragh Fitzgerald, Maryland CES
Claude Deyton, North Carolina CES
Joan Schultz, Maryland Dept. of Agriculture
Mark Rose, Community Planning Specialist
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Resource Conservation & Development and Rural Lands Division
Washington, DC
mark.rose3@usda.gov
202-690-2210
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/RESS/altenterprise/
All programs and services of the USDA and NRCS are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis to all individual and groups.