decide if the enterprise must make money in and of it- 

 self, or if the enterprise will serve to draw customers to 

 your operation. Keep in mind that an agritourism activ- 

 ity will likely help an already profitable operation 

 achieve a higher level of returns, but it is improbable 

 that this sideline activity will be able to rescue a busi- 

 ness operating at a substantial loss 



What you charge for an agritourism activity depends 

 on your goals. You may not want to put a lot of time 

 and effort in the activity and hope that additional prod- 

 uct sales justify the minimal time and expense. You may 

 charge a nominal fee, which would represent the out-of- 

 pocket cost incurred. Or, you may want the agritourism 

 enterprise to generate profit as well as enhance product 

 sales. 



You should keep track of the receipts and expenses 

 of the agritourism activity. If the activity is minor, re- 

 ceipts (if any) and expenses are often combined with 

 other business records On the other hand, if it is a ma- 

 jor activity which needs to show a profit, revenues and 

 expenses directly associated with the enterprise should 

 be kept separately. 



OTHER ISSUES 



Other key issues pertinent to operating an agritourism 

 enterprise are liability and labor Since you are re- 

 sponsible for the safety of any person on your prop- 

 erty, liability coverage is absolutely essential. Liability 

 insurance should be designed to protect both your as- 

 sets and earnings capacity from potential claims. For a 

 family business, you need a policy with personal and 

 business liability coverage on both spouses. Work 

 with your insurance agent to get the coverage needed. 



When adding an enterprise, always consider the im- 

 pact on labor requirements. How will the labor needs 

 be met? Can you cover the labor required with family 

 members or will you need to hire help? The employees 

 involved in a agritourism activity may be classified dif- 

 ferently (as non-agricultural employees), depending on 

 the nature of the enterprise. A change in classification 

 may mean a different set of labor rules and regulations. 



The success of your agritourism enterprise will de- 

 pend on careful planning. Be certain to realistically as- 

 sess not only your resources and market, but also your 

 desire and disposition towards making the enterprise 

 work. 



This article is based on information from "Agritourism in 

 New York State Opportunities and Challenges in Farm-Based 

 Recreation and Hospitality" published by the Department of 

 Rural Sociology at Cornell University, Uhaca, 1993. 



Michael Sciabarrasi is Extension Specialist, Agricultural Business 

 Management, in the Department of Resource Economics and 

 Development at UNH, Durham, the phone number there is 

 603-862-1700. 



THE GREEN SPOT 



J^ 



Conventional growers know — or should, anyway — that 

 before selecting a pesticide, they must first identify 

 the pest causing the damage. Moreover, the chosen pesti- 

 cide must be labeled for the pest and the crop on which it 

 is present. The same holds true for biological pest control. 

 In fact, it is even more critical: many natural and synthetic 

 chemicals are quite non-selective, whereas most predators 

 and parasitoids are pretty particular. 



When contacting your bio-control supplier for his/her 

 recommendations, it is fruitless to describe your plants' foes 

 as "little green things with legs." If you lack positive identi- 

 fication (from either a book or a bug-person), the following 

 criteria may help your supplier get to the root of your prob- 

 lem: 

 1. In millimeters, what is the approximate size of 



your pest? 



Does it have six, eight, or more legs? 



What is its color and shape? 



Is the coloration consistent on the pest's body? 



Is the coloration consistent throughout the pest 



population? 



Is there honeydew present? (Look for stickiness, 



ants, black sooty mold.) 



On which plant parts does the pest congregate most? 



What are the feeding patterns and/or damage? 



Are there various life stages present? 

 10. Are there distinguishing characteristics: hairs, cottony 



masses, siphoons (rear-end aphid structures), wings, etc? 



The answers to the questions above combined with tem- 

 perature, humidity, and crop information will bring you 

 much closer to sorting out the actual problem(s) at hand. 

 Purchasing a I0x-40x magnifier and an arthropod field 

 guide with color photos will be quite useful too. Monitoring 

 with visual sticky traps may also help. Pay close attention to 

 the crop by scouting weekly, it is true that the season is 

 hectic. However, without some basic knowledge of the 

 pest(s) at hand, the season can quickly turn to pure hell. 

 The Green Spot, Ltd., Department of Bio-ingenuity, 603-942-8925. 



7. 

 8. 

 9. 



^■■:*M^- 



Garden Center 



Consultations and Landscaping Designs 

 Greenhouses, Nursery, Craft, and Christmas Shop 



656 South Mammoth Road (Rte. 28A) 



Manchester, NH 03103 



(603) 625-8298 



2« 



THE PLANTSMAN 



