Hay Rides, Dude Ranches and Corn Mazes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Nationwide, states are discovering the importance of agritourism as a source of tax revenue, an engine of economic development and a method by which farmers can diversify operations. Although Arkansas has many agritourism operations -- Christmas tree farms, “you-pick” vegetable and berry farms, and at least one corn maze -- the state does not have a formal program to support agritourism as a viable industry, but a University of Arkansas law professor believes that the state has the resources and infrastructure to create it.

Harrison Pittman, assistant research professor and staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center at the School of Law, examined such programs in other states and determined that Arkansas possesses the important elements to develop the growing industry within its borders.

“Arkansas has all the human, land, government and academic resources needed to create a viable, statewide agritourism industry,” said Pittman. “If there are 100 operations now -- and we have no idea how many there are -- maybe we could have 1,000, and the ones already established could do better if there were some kind of program to support and promote agritourism.”

Agritourism is a rapidly growing U.S. industry that, as its compound name suggests, combines agriculture and tourism. Industry experts have crafted more specific definitions to include many types of agricultural operations -- vineyards and fish hatcheries, for example, in addition to traditional crop and livestock farms -- and they emphasize critical components, such as providing income for farmers and educational and recreational activities for the public.

Pittman found that agritourism exists in every state. Many states have established some type of formal effort to promote or enhance it, although the nature and scope of these efforts vary dramatically. Some states provide a Web site in which producers can register their operations so visitors can learn about various agritourism enterprises in the state. Other states have established governmental departments and enacted legislation that aggressively promotes agritourism.

Five states -- Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas and Vermont -- recognize agritourism as its own industry that can provide economic benefits to producers, communities and the entire state. Comprehensive campaigns to promote agritourism in these states include establishing formal organizational structures to create and develop agritourism statewide, enacting pro-agritourism legislation and creating state-level positions to enhance the role of agritourism in the state economy.

Pittman said Arkansas has the human and physical resources to pursue a similar effort. Most importantly, like those states that have undertaken comprehensive efforts to support and promote agritourism, agriculture is central to the state’s economy. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture reports that agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry and accounts for approximately 20 percent of the gross state product. Almost 50,000 farms in the state collectively generate more than $6.6 billion in annual farm income. With its rivers, lakes and hundreds of thousands of acres of national forest, Arkansas depends on tourism to generate revenue. According to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, tourism expenditures exceeded $4.6 billion in 2005.

Pittman’s research, which was featured at the 2006 Governor’s Conference on Tourism, served as platform for discussion at Agritourism in Arkansas: A Strategic Conversation, a recent conference on the potential for an agritourism industry in Arkansas.