Farm Retail & Agri-tourism

Safety and Risk

John Berry, Ag Marketing EducatorPenn State Cooperative Extension

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunityand the diversity of its work force.

• Agriculture-related museums

• Agriculture-related festivals and fairs

• Century farms• Corn-maze enterprises• Farmers’ markets• On-farm tours• On-farm retail markets• On-farm vacations

• On-farm festivals and fairs

• On-farm petting zoos• On-farm fee-fishing• On-farm horseback

riding• On-farm bed and

breakfasts• Pick-your-own farms• Wineries

Nature and agricultural based tourism – fastest growing segment in travel in the US– 30% increase in last decade

Ryan, S., DeBord, K., McClellan, K.; 2006

Ryan, S., DeBord, K., McClellan, K.; 2006

Ryan, S., DeBord, K., McClellan, K.; 2006

• 58% F / 42% M

• 18 to 89, ave. 48

• 2.7 / group

• 68% w/ 50 m.

• $120.00 / P.V.

• Weather

• Property tax

• Insurance cost

• Labor cost

• Industry promotion

NumberOfAttractions

PercentOfEnterprises

1 19%2 20%3 24%4 18%5 8%

6 > 10%

AttractionType

PercentOfEnterprises

On-farm retail 60%On-farm tour 45%

P-Y-O 25%On-farm petting zoo 20%

Pumpkin patch 20%Ag related festival 20%

Ag related fair 10%Corn maze 10%

C-Y-O xmas tree 10%Farmers’ market 10%

Ag related museum 10%Winery 5%

On-farm B & B 5%

Influencing & Adjusting

• Personality(ies)• Goals• Farm characteristics• Time / Labor / Management• Market / Brainstorm• Financial considerations• Are we ready?

Risk

• Production• Market• Financial• Legal• Human

Risk

• Production• Market• Financial• Legal• Human

Avoid

Reduce

Transfer Accept

Safety

Retail and/or Agritourism enterprises must provide a safe and healthy environment for customers and employees

Regulation

• General

• Employment

• Permits / Licenses

Regulation• ADA

• Animal welfare

• Public health – food safety

• Taxes – sales, amusement

• Building code

Resources?

Resources?

• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture– “other”

• Municipality

• Insurance provider

Resources?• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

– “other”

• Municipality

• Insurance provider

agmarketing.extension.psu.edu

www.PaFarm.com

http://www.agsafety.psu.edu/farmhat/

Farmers, insurers, educators, and other website visitors can select from over 150 topics including, machinery and equipment, buildings and facilities, and livestock handling hazards.

Scale of Safety fact sheet

• “most protection” through “least protection”

• “reminders”

• “laws, regulations, standards, guidelines”

• “other”

Scale of Safety fact sheet

• Retail–Christmas Trees sales–Christmas Tree Parking/ Lighting–Roadside Market Parking/Lighting–U Pick Parking Area and Lighting‐–U – Pick Tree Fruit

Scale of Safety fact sheet• Agri-tourism

–Corn Maze Parking and Lighting–Corn Maze Supervision–Farm Exposures–Hay Ride Equipment–Hay Ride Operations–Hay Ride Passenger Safety–Intensity of

Scale of Safety fact sheet

• Activities–Farm Ponds–Trampolines

Scale of Safety fact sheet

• Other–Vegetation–All Terrain Vehicles–Golf Cars–Utility Task Vehicles–Ag Buildings Fire–Ag Buildings/Fire extinguishers

Risk Audit sheets

• Self-audit

• Insurance provider audit

• 3rd party audit– Lehigh County Cooperative Extension and PaFarm

collaborating

Risk Audit sheetsRank Protection Hazard Level Corrective Action

1 Most Low, Negligible Improve, fix –when possible

2

3 Moderate Improve, fix - soon

4

5 Least High, Severe Improve, fix - immediately

Agriculture is risky business

Bringing members of the public onto the property increases the risk

Farms and agribusinesses best protect themselves from liability by engaging in a proactive safety program

Safety must form an important part of the day-to-day business

John Berryjohnberry@psu.edu Penn State Cooperative Extension – Lehigh

County610.391.9840

Farm Retail & Agri-tourism

Safety and Risk

John Berry, Ag Marketing EducatorPenn State Cooperative Extension

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunityand the diversity of its work force.