A dead-end dirt road cutting through rural Wisconsin leads to a pasture dotted with shaggy-coated Highland cattle, fluffy Icelandic sheep and a vintage Airstream trailer that farmer Brit Thompson turned into an Airbnb to capitalize on an explosion of urbanites looking to spend time in the countryside. Her guests, mostly Chicago-area professionals, offer a steady flow of income in an increasingly unstable agricultural economy. Thompson, who also raises animals for meat at her farm, Pink River Ran

Summary

With U.S. farm income down 23% since 2022 and crop prices at four-year lows, farmers are turning to agritourism—Airbnb rentals, corn mazes, and farm experiences—to generate revenue.

The $4.5 billion industry has grown, with farmstay listings increasing 77% in five years. Many farms earn an extra $25,000 to $100,000 annually, with some exceeding $1 million.

Platforms like Airbnb and HipCamp report rising farmstay demand.

While not all farms can participate, diversification helps sustain family farms and attract younger generations.

    • Diplomjodler
      4•12 hours ago

      And, entirely coincidentally, the few oligopolistic megacorporations that own all the food brands are posting record profits.