Alternative Enterprises and Agritourism

Alternative and agritourism enterprises allow farmers and ranchers to earn higher profits by replacing or supplementing traditional farm operations with innovative on-farm or on-ranch ventures.

Alternative enterprises can take many forms. They can produce food and fiber or have little to do with agriculture. They can produce new or unique crops or livestock or add value to traditional agricultural products. They can produce fun, recreation, nature-based, or educational products. They can rely on traditional farm practices or use alternative methods, such as organic systems. They can be labor and resource intensive or require few inputs. They can operate seasonally, or year-round.

But they all have a common theme: farmers and ranchers rely on the natural resources on their land - the soil, water, air, plants, wildlife, and scenery - to keep their family on the farm and the farm in their family. They also require sound land care. Since the land's resources generate income, conserving those resources makes good business sense.

Topics

• Success Stories
• Information Sheets
• Farming for Profit and Sustainability Resource Manual
• Resource Conservation and Community Development

Publications

Directories

• Economic and Rural Community Development Directory
  Resource people who are consultants, farmers, business entrepreneurs, university staff, cooperative extension and non-profit organizations.
• 2004 Alternative Enterprises and Agritourism Liaisons Directory
  NRCS liaisons who are the contact between the National Office and the field. These individuals are likely to be the best-informed staff personnel on NRCS alternative enterprises and agritourism activities.
• The National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils

Jerry C. Namken, Ph.D.
Resource Economist
202 720 7665
Room 6143, South Building
Natural Resources Conservation Service
1400 Independence Ave. S.E.
Washington, DC 20250
Jerry.Namken@wdc.usda.gov