Sponsors (17)
The bill promotes agritourism to boost rural incomes, farm revenue, and public access to farms by centralizing USDA support, but it increases federal costs and administrative burdens and raises safety, traffic, and land-use concerns for rural communities and small operators.
Rural communities and local economies will see increased tourism revenue and broader economic activity as USDA-promoted agritourism attracts more visitors and spending.
Small and family-run farms will gain supplemental income opportunities as agritourism activities (tours, events, on-farm sales) are supported and promoted by USDA programs.
Agritourism operators will receive technical assistance, mentorship, and best-practice guidance to improve marketing, financial planning, and business sustainability.
Taxpayers and USDA program beneficiaries could face higher federal administrative and program costs, and USDA staffing/funding for agritourism may divert resources from other farm programs.
Farmers, neighboring residents, and rural communities may experience increased visitor traffic, noise, safety and liability risks, and land-use or zoning conflicts as agritourism grows.
Small agritourism operators could face new compliance, reporting, or administrative burdens from USDA program updates and interagency coordination.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a USDA Office of Agritourism led by a Director to promote, coordinate, and support agritourism nationwide.
Official title: To establish in the Department of Agriculture an Office of Agritourism, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 15, 2025 by Suhas Subramanyam · Last progress May 15, 2025
Creates a permanent Office of Agritourism inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture and directs the Secretary to appoint a senior Director to promote, coordinate, and support agritourism activities nationwide. The new office will provide outreach, technical assistance, interagency coordination, program review, and updates to help farms and rural communities expand tourism-related offerings and diversify farm income. Also adjusts existing USDA statutory text to make room for the new office (redesignating a food access provision) and preserves the Secretary’s authority to operate the new Office of Agritourism.