Agritourism – Additional References

We’re now three posts deep into a series highlighting the topic of “agritourism“. However, reading my short, rambling rants on the subject helps only so much. Provided below are some additional references for further insight, and specific examples to guide implementation.

Additional Posts on Rural Resurrection

• University of Minnesota is Assisting Agritourism – The University of Minnesota knows this as well and has created pages on its website dedicated to promoting the development of agritourism in The Gopher State.
• Exploring the Agritourism Knowledgebase – With so much to learn about encouraging agritourism, while limiting the negative impacts, thankfully, there’s the Agritourism Knowledgebase.
• RAGBRAI ’22: Agritourism Shines on Day One – When most people think of activities at RAGBRAI, they think of the towns, but there’s quite a bit of agritourism going on as well!
• Harvest Hosts Aid Agritourism – Using services like Harvest Hosts can help local agritourism and the rollover economic impacts to your community.

Further Reading

Provided below are additional references for further reading on agritourism and its benefits:

• American Planning Association Knowledgebase on Agritourism – This webpage is APA’s central resource on agritourism. It has information and a host of links to additional resources.
• Agritourism Zoning Down on the Farm – This is another APA document that provides some insight on agritourism. It’s actually an article out of the “Zoning Practice”, a monthly publication on zoning put out by the Association. The document is relatively short, but provides some good information with links to other resources.
• Nebraska’s Guide to Agritourism and Ecotourism Development – A handbook for developing an Agro-Tourism or Eco-Tourism business in Nebraska.
• Planning for Agritourism – University of Purdue – This guidebook was developed for Indiana farmers and local governments. This too is a nice, quick summary on the topic with links to additional references.
• Montgomery County, Maryland – Agritourism Study – Although Maryland is well outside of the Midwest, this is a good study about the impacts of agritourism. It provides an analysis of agritourism in a number of counties throughout the United States.

Comprehensive Plans and Zoning

Provided through the links below are some specific examples of how agritourism has been added to Comprehensive Plans and Zoning Ordinances.

• Oshtemo Township, Michigan – Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Changes: This link provides a connection to 11 pages worth of comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance changes that were proposed for a township in Michigan. This township’s level of implementation may be over-the-top compared to what your community desires. But it is a good base to start from and cut away what you don’t want or need.
• Madera County, California – Agritourism Section: Shorter and simpler zoning regulations for agritourism.
• Lancaster County, Pennsylvania – Agritourism Guidelines: Provides some information regarding the promotion and development of agritourism for the county and some sample regulations. Most of the proposed regulations are definitions, improvements, and supplemental regulations.
• Lawrence, Kansas – Sample CUP Staff Report: Very thorough staff report with a detailed review of a proposed agritourism development. Includes a narrative, regulations review, site plans, and other information related to the proposed development. Conditions for the use to abide by are provided on Page 13.