Agritourism
Overview
Agritourism is a field that is growing in popularity as producers try to diversify and increase profits. By combining agriculture and tourism, agritourism offers new sources of revenue while also presenting potential problems and legal complications for agritourism operators. Simply stated, agritourism could be thought of as the crossroads of tourism and agriculture. Stated more technically, agritourism can be defined as a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors to a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining and/or educating the visitors and generating income for the farm, ranch, or business owner. Read the full overview.
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 2131-2160
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213
Compilation of States’ Agritourism Statutes
Compilation of States’ Equine Activity Statutes
Compilation of States’ Recreational Use Statutes
Case Law
Case Law Index for Agritourism
Center Research Publications
Ten Legal Issues for Farm Stay Operators (Hall & Wood, 2020)
Recent Agritourism Litigation in the United States (Hall & Essman, 2020)
Reducing Risk in Agritourism: Factsheet Series (Hall & Bachelor, 2019)
Using Alternative Enterprises and Recreational Development to Bolster Farm Income — Workbook (R. Rumley & Tullos, 2012)
Managing Legal Risk for Alternative Uses of Forestland (R. Rumley, Hatch, Walkingstick, E. Rumley & McPeake, 2012)
The Nature of Agritourism: Legal Risk Management for Agritourism Operators – PowerPoint (Mirus, 2009)
General Legal Issues for Community Farmers Market Managers to Consider (Crocker, 2007)
Planting the Seeds for a New Industry: Agritourism (Pittman, 2006)
The Farmer’s Legal Guide to Producer Marketing Associations (O’Brien, 2005)
Zoning Limitations and Opportunities for Farm Enterprises Diversification: Searching for a New Meaning in Old Definitions (Branan, 2004)
Recreational Use of Private Lands: Associated Legal Issues (McEowen, 2003)
Farmers’ Markets Rules, Regulations, and Opportunities (Hamilton, 2002)
An Overview of Organizational and Ownership Options Available for Agricultural Enterprises Part I (Goforth, 2002)
An Overview of Organizational and Ownership Options Available for Agricultural Enterprises Part II (Goforth, 2002)
Recreational Access to Private Lands: Liability Problems and Solutions (Copeland, 1998)
Ag & Food Law Update blog topics:
Congressional Research Service Reports
Reports– published and made available by CRS beginning in 2017
Subjects- published by CRS and made available by NALC until 2018:
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal publications on Agritourism:
Animals — Animal Rights
Equine Law
Farm Labor
Hunting, Recreation and Wildlife
Land Use Regulation
Organizational Forms for Agriculture
Public Lands
Reference Resources
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
AMS Farmers Markets
Food Safety
Local and Regional Food Sector
USDA Local Food Directories
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Licensing and Registration Under the Animal Welfare Act; Guidelines for Dealers, Exhibitors, Transporters, and Researchers (APHIS, 2019)
Building Better Rural Places: Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture (Krome et al., 2005)
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Forms and Publications to Assist Farmers
IRS Farmers’ Tax Guide
Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource
National Agricultural Library (NAL)
Agritourism Marketing Overview
Animal Welfare Information Center
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Agritourism Best Practice Guides
NIFA Agritourism Publications
Other Government Resources
Rural Development
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center – Agritourism
Local Agritourism Support
Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page
National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)
Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
Publications
Agritourism in Pennsylvania – Legal and Regulatory Issues (Schmidt, et. al., 2026).
Does Agritourism Hinder or Promote Farmland Preservation? (Richardson & Lashmet, 2025)
Insights on Agritourism Among US Producers: Evidence from the 2024 National Agritourism Producer Survey (Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, 2025)
Major Land Uses (Callahan, 2025)
Who Takes the Fall? Liability Limitations for Agritourism Activity Hosts (Gfeller & Munsey, Farm Credit, 2025)
Protecting your Farm and your Guests: Understanding Agritourism Liability in Minnesota (Thurmer, U. of MN Ext., 2025)
Roots to Revenue: Making Agritourism Work for your Farm (Soto-Velez & Holmes, 2025)
2022 Census of Agriculture: Agritourism Income (Law, 2024)
Ag and Food Statistics: Charting the Essentials (ERS, 2024)
Agritourism in North Carolina: Balancing Revenue Growth with Legal Compliance (Ward & Smith, 2024)
Growing a Global Agritourism Network (Hollas, et. al., 2024)
Hazards in the Pumpkin Patch: Legal Issues in Agritourism (Diener, 2024)
Legal and Policy Issues for a Growing Agritourism Industry (Hall, Richardson & Tidgren, 2024)
USDA Agritourism Resource Manual (Peters, 2024)
Agritourism Liability Law Helps Farmers Reduce Risk (AL Farmers Federation, 2023)
Agritourism Liability: Why Definition Matters from a Legal Perspective (Endres, et. al., 2023)
Fields of Opportunity: Agritourism as a Growing Industry and Impetus for Legislation Protecting Farmers and Landowners (Griffin, 2023)
Hawai’i Agritourism (Gifford, et. al., AZ State U., 2023)
How Agritourism Operators Make Marketing and Promotion Decisions (Miller, et. al., 2023)
Agritourism: Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics Extension Publication (McEowen, 2022)
America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance: 2022 Edition (Whitt, Miller & Olver, 2022)
Challenges for the Agritourism Sector in the United States (Hollas, et. al., 2022)
Defining and Regulating Agritourism: Trends in State Agritourism Legislation 2019-2020 (Center for Agriculture and Food Systems)
Defining the Bounds of Booming Agritourism (Guarino, Swanson & Endres, U. of IL, 2022)
Don’t Walk Under That Mistletoe: Limited Liability for Agritourism Destinations (Ma Roddy & Remke, 2022)
Increasing Farm Viability Through Agritourism and On-Farm Direct Sales: An Oregon Producer Survey (Stewart, et al., 2021)
Diversification Through “Fun in the Farm”: Analyzing Structural Factors Affecting Agritourism in Tennessee (Khanal, Honey & Omobitan, 2020)
A Guide to Successful Agritourism Enterprises (Nobes, et. al., 2019)
Agritourism Manual (KS. Dept. of Wildlife & Parks, 2019)
Agritourism and Liability Waivers (Wells, Ward & Smith, 2019)
Inviting People to Visit your Farm: Safety for your Agritourism Business (Darnton, MI State U. Ext., 2018)
Florida’s Agritourism Laws (Henry & Stofer, U. of FL Ext., 2017)
Getting Started in Agritourism (Roth & Ochterski, Cornell U. Cooperative Ext., 2016)
Agri-tourism Resources (Georgia Department of Agriculture)
Agri-tourism: Health and Safety Guidelines for Children (Humann, MJ & Lee, 2007)
Agritourism: Ideas and Resources (Walker, 2009)
Agritourism Enterprises on your Farm or Ranch: Where to start (George, UC Davis, 2008)
Zoning and Health Considerations in Agritourism (Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, 2007)
Agritourism Fact Sheet (LSU Research and Extension)
The Opportunity for Agritourism Development in New Jersey (Schilling, et. al., Rutgers, 2006)
A Handbook for Planning and Managing Agritourism and Nature Tourism Operations (Jolly, UC Davis Small Farm Center, 2006)
Managing Liability: Legal Liability in Agritourism and Direct Marketing Operations (Richardson, Jr., Virginia Cooperative Extension)
Agritourism in Arkansas Resource Guide (Foster, et. al.,)
Agritourism: Entertainment (Schmidt & Cornelisse, PSU Ext.)
Additional Resources
Agritainment (PSU Ext.)
Agritourism (American Planning Assoc.)
Agritourism (OH State U. Ext.)
Agritourism (NH Food Alliance, 2025)
Agritourism (U. of VT Ext.)
Agritourism and Ag Safety (Fetzer, PSU Ext.)
Agritourism Allows Farms to Diversify and Has Potential Benefits for Rural Communities (Whitt, Low & Van Sandt, 2019)
Agritourism Legal Basics (Farm Commons)
Agritourism Emergency Response & Legal Liability Agritourism Emergency Response & Legal Liability Assessment Checklist (Rutgers: NJ Agricultural Experiment Station)
Agritourism Destination Licensing Guide (McPhail, KS Dept. of Agriculture, 2020)
Agritourism Farms Are More Diverse Than Other U.S. Farms (Bagi, 2014)
Agritourism Marketing (Agricultural Marketing Resource Center)
Agritourism Safety – Integrating Safety into Agritourism
Appeals Court upholds injunction against wedding barn (Hall, 2022)
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses (MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education 2003)
Community and Regional Development Institute (Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
Developing Montana’s Agritourism: Resource Manual (Miller, 2018)
Ecotourism (Wyman & Stein, U. of FL Ext., 2025)
Culinary and Agritourism: Direct Marketing Strategies (WA State Dept. of Agriculture, 2019)
Diversification of Your Operation, Why? (Hyde & Kime, 2023)
Entertainment Farming and Agri-Tourism: Business Management Guide (Adam, 2004)
Extension Training for Agritourism Development (Rutgers: NJ Agricultural Experiment Station)
Farmbytes: The Basics of Marketing Local Food (Overgaard, U. of MN Ext., 2015)
Farm Stand and U-Pick Produce Operations Safety Best Practices (IA State Ext., 2022)
Farm Tour and Agritourism Guide (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)
Produce Safety Rule (FSMA) in Maine (ME Dept. of Ag.)
Growing Your Brand (MS State Ext.)
Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (UT St. U. Ext.)
Insurance and Liability Considerations for Agritourism (Ford, Sustainable Farming Association, 2023)
International Agritourism Association
Is Starting an Agritourism Business Right for Your Farm? (Farm Bureau Financial Services, 2024)
Liability Releases for Agritourism Activities – Don’t Fall Prey to Myths (Fershtman, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News, 2020)
Marketing Your Agritourism Business (PSU Ext.)
Natural Resources Enterprises (MS St. Ext.)
North Dakota State University Ag Hub (ND St. U.)
Resources for Starting an Agricultural Tourism Business (U. of WI Ext.)
Resources (NC Agritourism)
Rules and Regulations – Agricultural Tourism (OR State U.)
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program: Agritourism (UC Davis)
Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE)
Taking the First Step: Farm and Ranch Alternative Enterprise and Agritourism Enterprise Resource Evaluation Guide (Southern MD Resource and Conservation Board, 2004)
Tribal Agritourism Resources (AIANTA)
Vermont Agritourism Collaborative (U. of VT)
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms