Sponsors (17)
The bill promotes agritourism to boost small-farm incomes, rural tourism, and federal support coordination, but it is nonbinding, could shift resources or add costs, and may create local and regulatory risks without dedicated funding and safeguards.
Small and family-run farms, plus agritourism small businesses, gain coordinated federal outreach, technical assistance, marketing help, and mentorship that can increase revenues and improve business planning.
Rural communities see increased tourism, outdoor recreation, events, and local business activity that can support jobs and supplemental farm income.
Farm operators and state partners gain improved federal coordination, access to best practices, interagency tools, and expanded grant opportunities that can reduce regulatory confusion and help projects access resources.
The bill's language is largely nonbinding and provides no dedicated funding or deadlines, so promised coordination and benefits may not materialize without further appropriation or mandate.
Emphasis on agritourism and creating new coordination roles risks diverting Department attention and limited resources away from other agricultural priorities (e.g., commodity supports, conservation).
Establishing a new federal office or coordination effort increases administrative costs borne by taxpayers without a specified funding offset.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates an Office of Agritourism at USDA to promote, coordinate, and support agritourism activities and integrate agritourism into Department programs.
Creates an Office of Agritourism within the U.S. Department of Agriculture and requires the Secretary to appoint a senior Director to promote, coordinate, and support agritourism activities across States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The Office would provide outreach, technical assistance, interagency coordination, review farm enterprise development programs, and help integrate agritourism best practices into USDA programs. The bill also includes congressional findings describing agritourism benefits (education, recreation, direct sales, lodging, dining, heritage preservation, and local economic development). It does not authorize new funding, impose regulatory mandates on states or businesses, or set implementation deadlines in the text provided.
Introduced May 15, 2025 by Suhas Subramanyam · Last progress May 15, 2025