Louisiana Agritourism: January 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

National Agricultural Law Center

The National Agricultural Law Center is staffed by a team of law and research professors, lawyers, other specialists, and graduate assistants from the University of Arkansas School of Law Graduate Program in Agricultural Law to provide information to the agricultural community.

Click here to enter a reading room that has lots of information on many different topics.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Start Planning for the Farmers' Market Today

It's almost February and time to think June Farmers' Market openings. What will you have to sell and how much should you plant? Click here for more information.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Agritourism Ideas for Forestlands

While your forest stands are growing consider diversifying your operation to include one or more of the following: hiking/nature walks, hunting, scavenger hunts, horseback riding, camping, wildlife viewing or bird watching. A cabin in the woods would create and wonderful farm stay for persons trying to escape city life and reconnect with nature. For more information on any of these ideas, contact Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter agritourism coordinator, at (318) 927-9654 Ext. 229 or e-mailing her at dhatch@agcenter.lsu.edu

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding brings back so many favorite memories for me. My family had five horses and lots of friends who visited our farm to enjoy them. Go to HORSES & HORSES to find a stable near you.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Latest Louisiana Agritourism Connection Edition Available

Visit the LSU AgCenter's agritourism website for information on Louisiana agritourism topics. Keep abreast of the latest trends and helpful information by reading the quarterly newsletter, click here.

Agritourism Law Limits Liability

In 2008, the Louisiana Legislature expanded the limitation of liability found in La R.S. 9:2795 et seq to include certain agritourism activities. The legislation authored by Representative Andy Anders and Senators Francis Thompson and Mike Walsworth provides that the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Foresty (LDAF) will develop a set of rules and regulations and that the LSU AgCenter will define a “plan of operation” for an agritourism venture and review those plans.

More about this law can be found on the LSU AgCenter Web site: www.lsuagcenter.com/agritourism

2012 Agriculture Census Shows Increase in Farming

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2014 –There are now 3.2 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres of farmland across the United States, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Once every five years, farmers, ranchers and growers have the unique opportunity to let the world know how U.S. agriculture is changing, what is staying the same, what’s working and what we can do differently,” said Dr. Cynthia Clark, the retiring head of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, which administered the survey.

Eighty-seven percent of all U.S. farms are operated by families or individuals.
Principal operators were on average 58.3 years old and were predominantly male; second operators were slightly younger and most likely to be female; and third operators were younger still.
In Louisiana agritourism grew from 170 farms in 2007 to 361 farms in 2012.
In Louisiana onfarm agritourism sales jumped from $2,486 to $8,996 in 2012.
In Louisiana the definition of agritourism is broader than the definition in the census; meaning that numbers are greater.