Please visit the Agritourism blog for more information about agritourism in Louisiana.

An agritourism plan of operation is a planning document that assists agritourism professionals in complying with La R.S. 9:2795.5 to reduce agritourism liability.

Best management practices are suggested practices that an agritourism professional can use to minimize risks in an agirtourism enterprise.These best management practices can be used in the plan of operation under “suggestions to minimize risks.”

Applications are now being accepted for Class XIV of the Agricultural Leadership Development Program, which begins in January 2014.

List of the Connect My Louisiana teaching team

This how-to article provides tips on selling flowers at your local farmers maket.

In this quarterly edition we will discuss the broad definition of agritourism, farm stays, flowers, signage, and farmers markets.

Agriculture and tourism together present unique opportunities for farmers to diversify and expand their operations. This brochure describes the steps in developing an agritourism business venture. (PDF format only)

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information on how to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered in this edition include: selling produce at pick-your-own operations, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations and farmers markets. Also included is information on online marketing and financing.

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information how to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered in this newsletter include: outdoor enterprise development business plan workshop announcement, how to use paddling trails for added farm income, organic gardening, choosing where to sell produce, MarketMaker, instructions on how to qualify for farmers market program in Louisiana and the 2011 Ag Summary.

The fact sheet was written by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. It contains the agritourism limited liability law and an explaination of that law.

Landowners who have considered an outdoor recreational enterprise as a business venture, those who would like to expland an existing operation or anyone interested in generating additional income from their property should attend this one day workshop. Land management specialists, enterprise operators, attorneys and bankers will present the facts and figures and lead "hands-on" sessions to help draft an outline of a business plan.

Landowners who have considered an outdoor recreational enterprise as a business venture, those who would like to expland an existing operation or anyone interested in generating additional income from their property should attend this one-day workshop. Land management specialists, enterprise operators, attorneys and bankers will present the facts and figures and lead "hands-on" session to help draft an outline of a business plan.

This guide contains links to online resources to assist individuals in establishing and maintaining a farmers market.

A Connect My Louisiana Summit will be held in on March 5, 2013.

This workshop will provide information on the USDA's dietary guidelines using the new "My Plate" icon. We will be learning about the features available on their new website. Learning how to use My Plate will guide you in making good decisions about what you should eat. The website also allows you to personalize your food plan based on age, height, weight, and activity level.

High-speed (broadband) Internet connections are being made available to rural areas of Louisiana, and the LSU AgCenter is preparing people to take advantage of this resource through an educational program called Connect My Louisiana. “What is Broadband?” is the first class in the series and will cover various types of broadband, explain connection speeds, and where to find broadband in your area.

A Connect My Louisiana Summit will be held in Hammond on January 15, 2013.

The nature of online business is changing rapidly with the advent of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger and many more social networking sites. Therefore, establishing an online presence for business is increasingly easy and low cost. This class presents participants with important global online business trends and the steps necessary to establish a successful online business.

High-speed (broadband) Internet connections are being made available to rural areas of Louisiana, and the LSU AgCenter is preparing people to take advantage of this resource through an educational program called Connect My Louisiana. “What is Broadband?” is the first class in the series and will cover various types of broadband, explain connection speeds, and where to find broadband in your area.

This guide lists resources for establishing and maintaining a farmers market. Links to publications on vegetable gardening, weed control, pesticide training and soil samples are also included.

This quarterly e-newsletter contains information on social media marketing and shares the success story of the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival.

The LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Young Ag Producer Program (LaYAPP) is a one-year intensive classroom/hands-on, mentor-based experience that introduces high school juniors and seniors to the options available in the areas of food and fiber production and encourages them to consider a career in agricultural production.

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information on how to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered in this newsletter include: new agritourism survey, food trends for 2012, nature-based tourism, MarketMaker, local chefs linking to new markets online, new dairy blog, free classes teaching online marketing and using internet to get your business noticed.

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered include: online marketing, farm stays, MarketMaker, educational opportunities on the Web and the hottest trends in restaurant menus that offer opportunities for farmers.

The LSU AgCenter was pleased to host the first Wireless Ed Roundtable in Louisiana on Oct. 24, 2011, in Baton Rouge. Speakers from WirelessED, Consumer Action, and the LSU AgCenter discussed the importance of broadband Internet connectivity at the meeting hosted in Efferson Hall and broadcast out to Acadia, Franklin, St. Tammany and West Carroll parishes.

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information on how to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered in this newsletter include: Recreational Horseback Riding for Fun and Profit Workshop information, Coastal Ecotourism Workshop information, Ag Expo information and a list of webinars available through eXtension.

This one-day workshop will provide current and prospective businesses with information on supplemental income opportunities from natural resource tourism. Targeted participants include coastal landowners, farmers, charter and guide fishermen, marina owners and swamp tour operators.

The half-day workshop held in conjunction with the 2013 Ag Expo in West Monroe will provide current and prospective horse owners with information on supplemental income opportunities related to the equine industry. Equine professionals will discuss the following topics: revenue potential for equine businesses, general horse training, horse psychology, trail riding, selection and use of proper track, managing liability and use of social media to begin or enhance the growth of your business.

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Agritourism blends entertainment, education and tourism together to provide a fun, exciting and memorable getaway for school trips and family outings. This website provides educational resources to assist new and existing entrepreneurs in developing, expanding and improving their agritourism ventures.

Each type of social media has a different focus, from text updates to photos and videos. What you need to do is figure out which one or how many you want to use. This presentation will give you an overview of the various types of social media out there and what each one does, such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, You Tube, Pinterest and Blogs.

Louisiana Market Maker course packet

This workshop will provide information on the USDA's dietary guidelines using the new "My Plate" icon. We will be learning about the features available on their new website. My Plate is a new icon that is simpler to use than the traditional food guide pyramid. The website also allows you to personalize your food plan based on age, height, weight, and activity level. There is also a guide to help you determine which food group a particular food should go into and its calorie content.

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered include: upcoming November agritourism workshop, MarketMaker, culinary tourism and a look at WesMar Farms.

This fact sheet contains information on links to the Louisiana Agritourism Limited Liability Law, animal welfare act, LSU AgCenter help sites for agritourism and information on MarketMaker.

There are many advantages to opening an e-business. An e-business eliminates the need for a storefront and allows the owner to have flexible hours. It can also expand markets for existing brick-and-mortar businesses. In addition, owning an e-business is an advantage for some people who have physical challenges and cannot work in a normal work environment.

Join us on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at Curry Farms, Inc. in Rayville for a one-day workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will learn agritourism basics from expert speakers and tour an agritourism operation. Registration costs $25 payable in advance or on site.

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information on how to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered in this newsletter include: highlights from the Southeast Agritourism Region Committee meeting, farm safety resources, insurance tips, announcement of two workshops on equine and paddling, and a snapshot of The Rock Ranch in The Rock, Georgia.

This quarterly newsletter edition offers information on the upcoming paddling and canoeing workshop, farm trips and fall farmers markets. It also includes ideas on how to grow your farm into an agritourism venture and how to use quick response codes to market your venture.

A tool for community groups to assess their readiness for economic development.

A gardening contest to encourage 4-H'ers to try their hand at vegetable gardening.

Workshop will focus on agritourism enterprise development of wildlife and water systems on farmlands. Guest speakers will talk about revenue potential, outdoor recreational opportunities on farmlands, how to start an outfitters business and legal concerns. Speakers will discuss hunting, fishing and crawfish. Nationally known river guide John Ruskey will speak and offer a canoe trip on the first day of the workshop.

This project provides education and assistance for the creation and ongoing support of community gardens.

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered include: pumpkin planting, pumpkin sales, fall moneymaking activities and information on USDA certification for agritourism ventures involving animals.

The benefits of school gardens are numerous and are not restricted to a particular age group. Gardens can accomodate student's visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles. (PDF format only)

This fact sheet authored by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry provides an explanation of the 2008 limitation of liability law on agritourism operations (La R.S. 9:2795.5) in Louisiana.

Agritourism Rules published by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Office of the Commissioner

This guide contains Web addresses and reading materials helpful to agritourism entrepreneurs.

A quarterly e-newsletter providing information on how to start, grow or sustain your agritourism venture. Topics covered in this newsletter include: information on Curry Farms’ Second Pumpkin Growing Contest; Landry Vineyard's harvest and celebration; tips to sell produce; stories of successful agritourism operations in Vermont and Texas; and funding for nature-based tourism development in northeast Louisiana.

Selling your handmade items, crafts and vintage items on the Internet has never been easier. This workshop will introduce you to a few of the online tools available to sell items online and help you determine which tool is the right fit for the items you have for sale. Each of the tools has different markets, different seller fees and different options. Correctly determining which tool you use can impact your profit.

Louisiana Market Maker is an exciting Web-based marketing tool providing links between agricultural producers and potential buyers of food products. In addition to a searchable database of markets and growers, Louisiana MarketMaker also contains a wealth of demographic and business data to help agricultural producers identify potential markets for their products. This is a step by step presentation on how to get your business on the Louisiana Market Maker site.

Introduction to Tablets course packet

project team

links

Twitter is a simple micro blogging service built around the concept of instant messaging with short updates- less than 140 characters. You can post updates using the twitter website, software on a browser, mobile phone or through instant messages. This class will cover creating an account, setting up a profile, and creating and reading tweets.

This quarterly edition offers information on Louisiana’s status in agritourism, horseback riding, canoeing, direct marketing, MarketMaker, sunflower trails, fall pumpkin-growing contest, haycation and farm stay. A link is also provided for information on making and selling jams, jellies, preserves and honey products.

(Distributed 05/17/12) East Feliciana 4-H clubs hope their school-community garden project will help decrease the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure in elementary and junior high students in the parish.

This agritourism fact sheet provides tips on how to increase your direct sales through farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA) or roadside stands.

A sample curriculum for the Community Leadership and Economic Development program.

The LSU AgCenter is committed to investing resources into the citizens of Louisiana. Our leadership programs are designed to enhance agriculture and communities throughout the state.

Created in 1988 to enhance leadership in rural Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program is a highly successful, two-year program of study that prepares young men and women, dedicated to agriculture, for the leadership challenges of the future..

A.J. Sabine, with the Louisiana Farm Bureau’s “This Week in Louisiana Agriculture” program, speaks with Bradley Leger, Ph.D. from the LSU AgCenter about the Louisiana Young Ag Producers Program about the upcoming 2011 Summer Institute which will be held July 18-22, 2011.

The Ag Leadership curriculum requires about 40 days of training, which includes lectures, field trips, and study tours.

Alumni Directory broken down by AgLeadership classes.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Agricultural Leadership Development Program.

Community Leadership and Economic Development FAQ

Read the latest about the Agricultural Leadership Development Program

The AgLeader is the newsletter for the Agricultural Leadership Development Program. Each issue includes articles about leadership, current class and alumni updates.

(Distributed 09/07/08) When disasters happen, dedicated volunteers and professionals swing into action to help those affected by the tragedy. But these helpers also have needs, says LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences specialist Becky White.

(Distributed 01/17/08) Twenty-five men and women from across Louisiana began a two-year venture in the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program when they attended their first class last week (Jan. 8-10) in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 06/30/08) Participants in the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program visited Washington, D.C., in mid-June as part of the two-year study program. Briefings on agricultural issues and visits with Louisiana’s legislative delegation were some of the highlights of the June 10-14 study tour to Washington, D.C., for this 11th class to participate in the program coordinated by the LSU AgCenter.

Members of 4-H Clubs across Louisiana are learning what it means to be good citizens, and they’re showing it through a variety of community service projects.For example, Ouachita Parish 4-H’ers are collecting books to distribute to hospitals and charity organizations in their parish.