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Maine Agritourism for Farmers
Agritourism helps people explore farming and agriculture. It takes many forms, from farm visits, tours, and local shopping, to cultural, recreational, and learning experiences. It generates additional farm income and enhances connections between agriculture and the broader community. For example, on-farm tours help visitors learn how farms grow crops and farm animals. Farm tours show how farm products are made.
Agritourism is a chance for people to understand the diversity and value of farms in their communities. We encourage visitors, farmers, and agricultural supporters to learn more!
On this Page:
For Farmers: Resource Library to Support Your Agritourism Endeavor
Agritourism Summit
Safety and Liability
- Liability in Maine Agritourism Statute - Review the State of Maine statute about agritourism liability.
- Maine Bureau of Insurance, Consumer Guide to Insuring Your Farm (PDF) - This covers the basics of property and liability coverage.
- Integrating Safety into Agritourism - These checklists are designed to help farms identify potential safety hazards, learn how to implement safety strategies, and address identified safety issues.
- Maine Agritourism Liability Sign, Print-ready, 24 x 30-inch (PDF) – Includes required language from liability statute. May be used as an option to professionally printed sign, which can be displayed during agritourism activities.
Safety and Health
- Maine CDC Train the Trainer Guide (PDF) - Understanding diseases that can be transferred between people and animals. Learn how to keep your farm and animals healthy.
- Maine CDC Train the Trainer Course – Helpful guidance for farmers, fairs, and others who should know about animal-to-human disease prevention.
- Signs -Catalog of food safety, zoonotic disease, hand-washing - Includes pre-made signs to help you share important messages about farm, animal, and people's health. To order or download for printing.
Promotions
- Open Farm Day
- Real Maine Media Toolbox (PDF) - Tips and tools for your farm marketing and promotions.
- Directional Signs, Print-ready, 8.5 x 11 (PDF) – A set of 13 signs to help farmers direct and instruct farm visitors about agritourism activities.
- Preparation Checklist (PDF) - Suggestions to get ready to host visitors
Online Learning
A list of courses, webinar recordings, and fact sheets covering a breadth of agritourism topics
- Farm-assessment tools - An educational videos series, an online enterprise budget tool, and fact sheets - Rutgers Cooperative Extension
- Risk Management Education for Farmers with On-Farm Visitors - Iowa State Cooperative Extension
- Beginner’s Assessment, Farm Experiences, Finances, Safety and Marketing Info - University of Vermont Cooperative Extension
- National Ag Law Center Agritourism Overview
- USDA National Agriculture Library, “Agritourism and Farm Tours”
Important Contacts
Subscribe to Agritourism Updates for Farmers
Maine Open Farm Day
- Email: RealMaine@maine.gov
Maine Bureau of Insurance
- Phone: 207-624-8475
- Contact the Bureau of Insurance
Agritourism Promotional Events and Real Maine Promotions
- Agricultural Resource Development Division
- Email: DACFRealMaine@maine.gov
- Phone: 207-287-3491
- ARD Market Promotions Resources
Food Safety:
- Quality Assurances & Regulations (support and applications for licenses and access to laboratory testing)
- Phone: 207-287-3841
- Permits and licenses
- Maine DHHS, District Health Inspectors (Maine Food Code, eating places, camps, lodging, etc.):
- Phone: 207-287-5671
- Contact Health Inspection Staff
- General information and resources
- Access forms and applications
State Veterinarians, Animal and Plant Health Staff: Farm biosecurity, right to farm, nutrient management and more
- Phone: 207-287-3491
- Contact Staff
Emergency Preparedness & Public Safety: Safety and emergency planning between businesses and first responders at town, county, and state levels
Maine Dept. of Transportation: Maine Road Signs and placement, byways, traffic counts, general info)
- Phone: 207-624-3332
- About Official Business Directional Signs (OBDS) reflectorized signs
- About Scenic Byways
- View general info
Maine Tourism and Hospitality: Training, metrics and contacts
- WelcomeME Free Training for Hospitality and Customer Service
- Annual Plans and Reports
- List of Contacts that Help Promote Maine’s Tourism and Travel Activities
Resources for Towns, Organizations, and Businesses
Maine agriculture is unique, varied, and important. Farmers play a vital role in communities across the state. Farming is a livelihood that provides on-farm jobs. It also supports other local businesses. The working landscapes of agriculture provide an attractive scenery to visitors who travel to view Maine’s iconic scenery. Agritourism provides communities with interactive experiences, from shopping at the farm for quality farm products to seasonal recreational activities.
Supporters of agriculture can show their support in many ways. Examples of efforts include:
- Buying and using Maine farm products– the Real Maine promotional website and the wholesale website are places to start
- Connecting with and listening to farmers’ short- and long-term needs
- Volunteer for and promote community events
- Proactively collaborating and communicating for special event planning and directional signage for larger events
- Supporting educational efforts. For example, programs such as Harvest of the Month, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, Maine FFA, and Maine 4-H
There are many ways to further support farmers that may be unique to your town and community. You can network, learn and share this information with others across the state who want to support Maine agriculture and our state’s working landscapes.
Email Us with your ideas and for more information about supporting Maine farms and agricultural events!
Promotional Resources—for agricultural supporters and businesses
- Call us at 207-287-3491
- or visit our section on Market Promotion
Planners
The professionals who provide guidance, reference, and strategy on zoning, design, legal applications, use of resources in communities, etc.