USDA Certification May Be Necessary if You Use Animals in Your Agritourism Operation

Agritourism operators who use animals as part of their agritourism venture are be subject to the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act regulations.

If your agritourism venture charges people to see animals, pet them or feed them you need a license as an exhibitor. If you do not have a license from USDA and are engaging in this practice, you could be subject to a $10,000 fine.

To safeguard your operation, you should call Dr. Lynn Bourgeios, veterinary medical officer with USDA animal care. Dr. Bourgeois can be reached by calling his office at (985) 537-0691 or by calling his cell at (240) 461-9182. He travels the state, so please leave a message. In the event that none of these numbers work call Mike Long at (970) 494-7471 to learn how to become certified. If no answer, call the main number (970) 494-7478 and ask to speak with someone concerning USDA certification under the Animal Welfare Act.

The process requires completion of an application and an inspection. During the inspection, officials will check on husbandry issues, veterinary care program, where animals live and review how animal food is stored.

So, if you have a petting zoo, race pigs, have a goat walk, ride horses, etc. you need to contact USDA and see if you need to become certified.

Louisiana Agritourism Survey Complete by Jan. 27th

After the passage of the 2008 Limited Liability Agritourism Law in Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter began providing more information to farmers, ranchers and other agricultural landowners about diversifying their operations to include agritourism.

Click here to participate in our online survey. The LSU AgCenter wants to hear from you about your experience with our program and your future needs.

Survey closes on Jan. 27th.

If you have questions contact: Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter Agritourism Coordinator, dhatch@agcenter.lsu.edu or by call her at (318) 927-9654 x 229.

A Webinar on Apps and Maps-Get Connected to a New Audience this Year

It's a new year and time to learn new things. If you have not tried webinars, you should try this one on "Maps, Apps and Mobile Media Marketing."

The time is 1 pm central time on January 12th. To access the webinar go to:

https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/etc-cop

This webinar is the first in a series dedicated to helping small business owners use online tools to reach new audiences. Just perfect for us agritourism folks.

This webinar will help you take advange of your customer's use of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.

No pre-registration is required and there is no fee to participate. About 10 minutes prior to the start time simply go the Adobe Connect Pro meeting room at https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/etc-cop. You will be presented with a login screen that has an "Enter as Guest" option. Enter your full name then click "Enter Room" to join the conference. You will be able to hear the audio directly from your computer’s speakers.

Check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/eXtensionentrepreneurs

Merry Christmas!

I hope that you and your loved ones will have a great holiday season. During this time of year we often look for things to do as a family. Remember that there is no better place to be than on a farm.

Food Safety Education and Planning for Agritourism Providers Webinar

Wednesday, December 14, Noon to 1pm
Free -- open to all interested

Hosted by: Lisa Chase, Londa Nwadike, and Ben Amsden
University of Vermont Extension and the Plymouth State University Center for Rural Partnerships

Understanding the latest in food safety is essential for farmers who sell products directly to consumers. This webinar will present the latest in food safety and food-based risk management issues specifically aimed at those involved in agritourism, including u-pick operations, farm stands, CSAs, prepared meals, and other activities where visitors and food come together on a farm. Whether you are a farmer or an Extension educator supporting farmers, the webinar will provide up-to-date information, best practices, and future directions in risk management and food safety in agritourism.

To access the webinar, please follow this link five minutes before the webinar begins:

https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2009421&password=M.3979AA011F410B2D15F77266B1F3FD


For technical assistance during the webinar, contact Jessie Schmidt at (866) 860-1382, ext. 203 (Vermont calls only) or (802) 223-2389, ext. 203, E-mail: jessica.a.schmidt@uvm.edu

Contact lisa.chase@uvm.edu, londa.nwadike@uvm.edu or blamsden@plymouth.edu for more information about the webinar.

Give Farm Gifts for Christmas

Do you have hard to buy for people on your shopping list for Christmas? My special people will receive gifts from farms this year.

Let me share a few ideas: jams, jellies, cheese, wine, pecans, berries, a trip to an agritourism venture for the family, a Christmas tree,or in-season vegetables. There are many more possibilities.

Locate your farms on MarketMaker and make the right choice for your friend or loved one.

Jane Eckert Hosting a FREE Webinar on Websites

"Winning Websites Mean Business," according to Jane Eckert. Jane is offering a free webinar on Monday, December 5th at Noon EST. Click here to register. This informative webinar will provide tips on making your website easy to navigate. Jane will also share designer tricks. Don't wait, sign up today!