Every farm has its own unique safety risks, and the safety of your guests is non-negotiable. Take the time to understand the risks associated with bringing visitors to your farm and make adjustments to create the safest environment possible.

Fact Sheets and Guides

• Improving Handwashing Stations - UVM Extension
• Safety & Risk Management for Agritourism (PDF)
• HPAI and Agritourism (PDF)
• Agritourism Onsite Farm Safety Guide (PDF) 
  Northeast Kingdom Travel and Tourism Association
• Food Safety and Good Agricultural Practices Resources 
  UVM Extension
• Keeping Passengers Safe on Hay Rides (PDF) 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• Managing Safety and Risk (PDF) 
  Training Module from Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety 
  Marshfield Clinic Research Institute

Tools, Checklists and Forms

• Farm Building Safety Checklist (PDF)
• Agritourism General Farm Safety Assessment Checklist (PDF) 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• Emergency Response and Legal Liability Checklist (PDF) 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• Agritourism Operation Food Safety Checklist (PDF) 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• Sample Safety Inspection Checklist (PDF)
  University of Tennessee, 2005
• Printable Signs and Information for the Public 
  National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety

It's important to do your best to prepare for the unexpected when you open your farm to visitors. Liability means that you are legally responsible for your actions, or inactions, that could bring harm to others. If what you did, or did not do, lead in a predictable manner to harm, then you are negligent.

Take the time to learn about the many types of "liability" you are assuming when guests come to your farm, then take appropriate measures to protect yourself.

Fact Sheets and Guides

• Integrating Safety into Agritourism 
  Safeagritourism.org
• Agritourism Liability (PDF) 
  Training Module from Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• Farm Safety Walkthroughs 
  National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
• Top 10 Ways To Limit Your Liability (PDF) 
  Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
• Risk Assessment and Management – Colorado (PDF) 
  from Colorado Agency of Agriculture
• Agritourism Best Management Practices (PDF) 
  Louisiana State University Ag Center

Tools, Checklists and Forms

• Agritourism Emergency Response & Liability Assessment Checklist (PDF) 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• Farm Accident/Incident Report Form [Sample, PDF] 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• Hazard Analysis Tool (FARM-HAT) 
  Penn State University
• Incident Report Form [Sample, PDF] 
  National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
• Agritourism Parking and Traffic Assessment Checklist (PDF) 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE
• Printable Signs and Information for the Public 
  National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety

Videos

• Legal Issues with On-Farm Events webinar 
  Farm Commons
• Managing Risk on Your Agritourism Farm: A Farmer’s Perspective 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE video
• General Farm Safety 
  Rutgers – Northeast SARE video

Connect

• Vermont Bar Association
  Provides half-hour consultations and referrals for $25: 1-800-639-7036.
• Center for Agriculture & Food Systems
  Vermont Law School

The following insurers have identified themselves as having experience in Vermont agritourism. This list is for information only and no endorsement or approval is intended.

• Tom Pyle, Durkee Insurance, Fair Haven, Vt.
• Co-Operative Insurance Companies, Middlebury, Vt.
• Mary Cobb and Roy Folsom, Jaimes L. Fewer Agency, Inc., Barre, Vt.
• Stuart Farnham, Frazer Insurance Agency; email: stuart@figvt.com
• Josh MacDuff, Kinney Pike Insurance, Rutland, Vt.

Town, state and federal regulations can be overwhelming, but it's wise to consider how they may impact your enterprise early in your planning. Give yourself adequate time to read and understand the regulations before you make significant investments in your agritourism business. This page will guide you to many of the appropriate resources who can provide more information specific to your business.

The following regulations may apply to your agritourism activities:

General Regulations

• Business Registration
• Business Taxation
• Sales Tax: Meals and Rooms
• Sales and Use Taxes
• American with Disabilities Act

Employment Regulations

• Fair Labor Standards
• Child Labor
• Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)
• Unemployment Insurance Taxes
• Vermont Fair Employment
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
• Vermont Occupational Safety and Health
• Administration
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance
• Vermont Family and Medical Leave

Permits and Licenses

• Vermont Act 143 (PDF)
• Product/equipment registration
• Label/packaging information
• Milk/dairy registration and licensing
• Meat/poultry inspection
• Commercial catering
• Liquor License
• Food processing

There are a number of resources to help you determine which regulations apply to agritourism activities:

• Rural Enterprises Information 
  Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
• Food Safety Requirements for Vermont Food Processors 
  University of Vermont Extension
• Guide to Health Department Rules Regulating Food & Lodging Establishments, a comprehensive list of Vermont requirements
   Vermont Department of Health