Welcome to your comprehensive resource hub, designed specifically for North Carolina agritourism farmers.

Here, you’ll find grant opportunities, state regulations, marketing toolkits and networking events to help you thrive.

North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this document, particularly references to statutes, codes, regulations, constitutional provisions, and any other legal references, does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available in this document are for general informational purposes only. Information in this document may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Readers or users of this document should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. No reader or user of this document should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information in this document without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Only a reader’s or user’s individual attorney can provide assurances that the information contained herein – and the reader’s or user’s interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to the reader’s or user’s particular situation. Use of, and access to, this document or any of the links or resources contained herein do not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader/user and the Department and its employees

FAQ

The Visit NC Farms App connects the dots in communities across North Carolina. Using cell phone technology, residents and visitors can find farms closest to them with products and activities that interest them.

Visitors can use the app to explore farms, farmers markets and local restaurants that are off the beaten path and unique to each community. 

+ Why should I list my farm on the Visit NC Farms App?

Showcasing your farm on the app allows you to reach a broader audience of potential customers and repeat patrons.

You'll be listed among an expansive and ever-growing collection of agriculture-based offerings.

With both a map and a list view, users will be able to easily find the farm closest to them or filter based on offerings.

Your farm listing will feature a brief summary, engaging imagery, and push button shortcuts to call, visit your website, or get directions.

User and member feedback ensures that the app stays relevant and up to date.

Your farm listing gives you access to real-time marketing opportunities through push notifications to app users.

+ Why should my community invest in the Visit NC Farms App?

There are significant social, economic and environmental benefits to promoting Agritourism in your community. It's the perfect way to educate people about your community.

Agritourism experiences show off the social dimension of agriculture. When consumers connect with the families and farmers growing their food, they leave more likely to advocate for and spend more on local foods.

As a benefit to participation, communities involved in the app received branded premium items to promote user interest in the app and North Carolina agritourism.

The Visit NC Farms app is affordable, scalable and replicable.

77% of all Americans now own a smart phone of some kind. (92% of 18-29 year olds)

In a Covid-19 economy, consumers are turning to local farms for food. Local farms are pivoting to meet the surge in demand. The Visit NC Farms App is ensuring they get connected.

59% of travelers say they will avoid crowds on their next leisure trip, and almost 30% of North Carolinians are more interested in traveling closer to home. This makes nearby rural and outdoor attractions the most likely destinations in the near future. Consider the app as a marketing tool to drive NC residents to the agriculture economy in their own backyards!

"The key is for rural communities to recognize that they have valuable assets, one of which is the very nature of rural life. In an increasingly congested and impersonal world, there is great appeal to a close-knit community. The qualities associated with rural life are particularly conducive to the creation of entrepreneurial ecosystems and the free flow of information, skills and resources…" Don Macke has nearly 40 years of community economic development and policy experience, is the co-founder of the Lincoln, Nebraska-based Center for Rural Entrepreneurship and director of the center's entrepreneurial communities solution area.

+ How is the app growing in North Carolina?

The pilot project was launched by Orange County in the fall of 2017. After their investment and initial success, the app expanded to other counties.

The project is now live or in development with 37 North Carolina counties. Recent additions now in the development phase include Durham, Guilford, and Alamance counties.

User engagement increased 52% and user downloads increased 41% in March as consumers concerned about health and safety turned to local farms for fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins.

The Visit NC Farms App is now reaching nearly 10,000 active users (and counting).

Data from active app users provides crucial information to better meet app user needs and stakeholder goals.

+ How is the app promoted?

Each community has access to marketing materials including posters, banner stands, buttons, stickers and window clings. Website badges are created for participating sites.

The app is promoted by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Marketing Division. Welcome and Visitor Centers across the state, the State farmers markets and other statewide venues will share the app messaging.

Being a part of the app is cooperative advertising. Each farm or community partner also promotes the app to their lists and followers so your audience grows exponentially.

North Carolina Farm Bureau is supporting this effort across the state.

As the app grows, the marketing efforts will expand as well. Think billboards!

+ Having trouble downloading or using the app?

Not all technology works on the first try! We've made a list of possible solutions >

ECONOMIC IMPACT

982

NC FARMS REPORTING AGRITOURISM

2.3% OF TOTAL FARMS

$31K

AVERAGE

FARM-LEVEL INCOME

PER OPERATION

$30.4M

TOTAL VALUE

OF RECEIPTS

+28% SINCE 2017

INSURANCE, RULES + REGULATIONS

Defining a Farm + Understanding Tax Exemption

*Please note that determining what qualifies as agritourism or bona fide farm for these purposes, is beyond the authority of the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the NC Agritourism Networking Association. State law prohibits the Department, including its attorneys, from providing you with legal advice, opinions, or recommendations.

  • Understanding how different agencies define a farm or agriculture will help farm operations meet regulatory exemptions and unlock financial benefits and incentives.

Understand Agritourism Exemption 

  • While there's no formal certification or government letter for agritourism farms, G.S. 160D-903 says in part, that if your farm meets at least one of the four requirements to be considered a bona fide farm, agritourism activities are protected under this statute. 

  • In this article, you can find more information on North Carolina's rules and regulations on county zoning and liability warning mentioned below. To file for an agritourism tax exemption in North Carolina, you’ll need to follow these steps to determine whether your property qualifies as a bona fide farm.

Ensure that you Qualify as a Farmer

  • You can apply for this exemption if you hold a qualifying farmer or conditional farmer exemption certificate number.  

  • If you’re not already a qualifying farmer, you can apply for the exemption certificate by submitting Form E-595QF. Find FAQ’s for Application for Qualifying Farmer Exemption Certificate Number for Qualified Purchases, here.

Apply with Your County Property Assessor

  • After ensuring that you qualify as a bona fide farm, you can apply with your county property assessor to have your property classified as a farm for tax purposes. Keep in mind that this program has specific requirements and exceptions.

Understand Agritourism County Zoning Exemption

  • Farm Sales Tax Exemption certification issued by the Department of Revenue: Qualifying Farmer or Conditional Farmer Exemption Certificate Number.

  • Present-Use Value Program- A copy of the property tax listing showing that the property is eligible for participation in the present-use value program pursuant to G.S. 105277.3. Here’s a video presentation on present-use value program (Skip to minute 27). To apply for participation or to find out if you may be eligible, please contact your county tax administration. Present-Use Value Form

  • Schedule F- A copy of the farm owner’s or operator’s Schedule F (IRS government forms) from the owner’s or operator’s most recent federal income tax return. 

  • Forest Management plan: In the United States, three major forest certification programs available for landowners: American Tree Farm System (ATFS), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). 

  • Liability- Ensure that correct liability warning signage is in place, in at least two locations on the farm. You can find compliant liability warning signs, here.

Farm Stays + RV Camping

  • The Department of Environmental Quality enforces regulations regarding wastewater treatment and disposal in general, but county health departments primarily handle permitting and inspections for sewage and septic systems that would apply to most farmland. Counties and DEQ work in conjunction with each other, but the individual county health departments are who most folks would work with.

Agritourism Insurance

 

  • *Please note that G.S. 160D-903 is not a substitute for general liability insurance. If you have a question about liability under Chapter 99E G.S. 99E-31 (ncleg.gov) and G.S. 99E-32 (ncleg.gov) of the General Statutes or your lease agreement, please contact your insurance carrier, or a private attorney in your area.

  • State law prohibits NCDA & CS, including its attorneys, from providing legal advice, opinions, or recommendations. If you would like to speak with a lawyer but do not know who to call, the NC Bar Association has a lawyer referral service, which can be found here.

*Please note that determining what qualifies as agritourism or bona fide farm for these purposes, is beyond the authority of the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the NC Agritourism Networking Association. State law prohibits the Department, including its attorneys, from providing you with legal advice, opinions, or recommendations.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

  • RAFI USA - provides crisis and technical support to Historically Underserved farmers and ranchers (USDA definition) for projects that demonstrate an ability to increase farm viability; establish new markets for local products and services; develop new uses for existing structures and equipment; add value to existing farm products through processing, packaging or marketing. If you are in danger of losing your farm and/or home, you may be in need of more in-depth assistance from the Farmer Crisis Hotline. If you are in crisis (or know someone else who is in crisis) and need someone to talk to, please call the toll-free number at 866.586.6746 open Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

  • NCA&T Small Farms Research and Innovation Center

  • USDA NRCS offers infrastructure support for projects such as building water retention ponds for animals and high tunnels, among other technical and financial assistance.

  • Rural Economic Development local offices offer loans, grants and loan guarantees to businesses through banks, credit unions and community-managed lending pools. They offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their operations.

  • UPLIFT NC- works regionally - across county borders - to support local tourism leaders and practitioners in realizing their vision for tourism in their community, including natural, recreational, cultural, agricultural, culinary, built and other tourism. They offer a database of grant opportunities to browse by category, and technical support for grants and loans needs.

  • Small Farms - Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI)- The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities.

AGRITOURISM SIGNING PROGRAM

The North Carolina Agritourism Signing Program provides directional signage to help visitors find agritourism sites across the state. To see if your farm qualifies, please review the workflow process and criteria outlined below. Once you’ve determined your eligibility, you can submit an application to your Agritourism Marketing Specialist for review. Approved applications will then be forwarded to NDDOT for pricing estimates and final approval.

Traffic Engineering Policies, Practices, and Legal Authority (TEPPL)

EVENT PERMITS + PLANNING TIPS

Hosting an event typically requires permits.

*Please note that determining what qualifies as an agritourism event or bona fide farm for these purposes, is beyond the authority of the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the NC Agritourism Networking Association.

Here are a few steps you may need to take:

  • Review Agritourism Regulations: Understand how North Carolina’s agritourism laws and regulations apply to the specific event. This includes any state-level exemptions or requirements.

  • Local Zoning Authority: Speaking with your county’s local zoning authority is important. They can provide information on zoning restrictions or permissions required for holding events on agritourism sites.

  • Food Safety Measures: Ensure compliance with all applicable food safety regulations. This might involve reviewing permits for food vendors, inspecting food preparation areas, and ensuring that proper food handling practices are followed. Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) permits are issued to food and drink vendors that operate in conjunction with a fair, festival or other special events. The NC State Fair, for example, qualifies for a TFE permit. Some vendors may be exempt from the North Carolina regulation requiring an operational permit to prepare and sell food or drink for pay. Please review this entire section in GS 130A-250(7) to have a full understanding of exemption.

  • Health Department Coordination: Coordinate with the local health department to address any specific health and safety concerns related to the event, including crowd control, sanitation, and emergency preparedness.

By consulting with the local zoning authority and ensuring compliance with all relevant food safety and health regulations, health inspectors can ensure that the event is safe and meets all legal requirements.

For potential noise and traffic congestion issues at an agritourism event, organizers should consider the following steps:

  • Noise Regulations: Check local noise ordinances to ensure the event complies with acceptable noise levels. This might involve restrictions on amplified music, hours of operation, or specific decibel limits. The local zoning authority can provide details on these regulations.

  • Traffic Management Plan: Develop a traffic management plan in collaboration with local law enforcement and transportation authorities.

This plan should address:

  • Parking: Designate sufficient parking areas to avoid congestion on local roads.

  • Signage: Use clear signage to direct attendees to parking areas and the event site.

  • Traffic Flow: Establish and communicate traffic flow patterns to minimize bottlenecks.

  • Shuttle Services: Consider offering shuttle services from nearby locations to reduce traffic volume.

  • Community Consultation: Engage with the local community to address concerns about noise and traffic. This might include public meetings or direct communication with nearby residents.

  • Permits and Approvals: Obtain any necessary permits related to noise and traffic from the local zoning authority. This ensures that all planned measures are legally compliant.

  • On-Site Monitoring: Implement on-site monitoring during the event to manage noise levels and traffic flow actively. This could involve having staff or volunteers dedicated to these tasks.

By proactively addressing noise and traffic concerns, the event can run smoothly while minimizing the impact on the local community.

NETWORKING + MARKETING TOOLKITS

Thank You for Taking Our Agritourism Farmer Survey

Your insights are invaluable in helping the North Carolina Department of Agriculture tailor our support to meet your marketing needs effectively.