Agritourism | UMES Extension

Agritourism

By combining agriculture and tourism, UMES Extension aims to help farmers increase their revenue streams and spread community knowledge about agriculture on the Eastern Shore, throughout Maryland and the nation.

What is Agritourism

Agritourism is defined by Maryland law as “an activity conducted on a farm offered to the general public or guests for education, recreation or active involvement in farm operations.”

It is a viable option for maintaining a farm’s sustainability, helping to diversify income sources.

Agritourism includes:

Farm tours

Hayrides
Corn mazes
Seasonal petting farms
Farm museums
Guest farms
Pumpkin patches
Pick your own or cut your own produce
Camping
Incidental outdoor stays
Classes related to agricultural products or skills
Picnic and party facilities in conjunction with any agritourism activity.

Agritourism continues to grow in Maryland. The 2017 Agriculture Census found 1,548 farms with an agritourism operation or direct sales. Agritourism events generated more than $162 million for the economy and helped support more than 1,000 jobs, according to a 2019 Maryland Department of Agriculture report.

How does UMES Extension help

The UMES Extension Agritourism Program provides education and training through conferences, workshops (including its popular traveling workshops), peer-to-peer interactions, as well as in-person and online training.

We facilitate the sharing and exchanging of ideas and best practices in agritourism with our stakeholders.

UMES Extension specialists use state-of-the-art methods and techniques to generate high-quality evidence, then provide evidence-driven solutions to address the challenges facing agritourism operations in Maryland.

UMES Extension outreach efforts include linking farmers markets with agritourism entrepreneurs, providing data-driven planning and programs, as well as value-added agricultural marketing options.

Find agritourism operations in Maryland with an Interactive Agritourism Map, developed by our experts.

Maryland Agritourism Conference

As part of these efforts, UMES Extension hosted its inaugural Maryland Agritourism Conference in December 2023, giving an opportunity for entrepreneurs, government entities, and educational institutions to gather and identify critical elements to grow agriculture-centered tourism in the state.

A second conference is planned in November 2025 to continue networking efforts and offer farmers training in areas specific to boosting the future of agritourism in Maryland.

For a look back at the inaugural conference, click here.

Traveling Workshops

Traveling Agritourism Workshops transport participants to agritourism venues on the Delmarva Peninsula, where they learn about successes and challenges direct from operators.

The traveling workshops offer a look at facets of the operations, including value addition, branding and marketing, as well as issues like managing visitors and liability, directing a labor force, and business aspects such as taxes, zoning and permitting.

From farm stands to farm stays to apiaries to pick your own, these behind-the-scenes looks offer real-world scenarios with helpful information you can apply to better your agribusiness.

Traveling Agritourism Workshop at BayBees Honey in Whaleyville. Owner Lauren Pascarella and her husband Fred Kelly explain their operation in Whaleyville. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Ag Communications)