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Produce growers may not grow the same quantity of product as farmers who plant conventional crops, but tracking the numbers is just as important, if not more so. Enterprise budgets are available for more than a dozen fruits and vegetables commonly grown in Iowa, and producers can update them with their own numbers and unique situation.

Previous issues of the Visit Iowa Farms newsletter highlighted the first three steps a business must take to provide excellent service to its customers. The final steps are: step four, Make it SATISFYING, and step five, Make it MEMORABLE.

Whether your agritourism destination includes livestock, food, seasonal activities, or farm stays, a successful marketing plan will expand your customer base and ultimately lead to additional revenue. This article will give you 5 steps to help improve your farm marketing.

Although the title has changed, the farmer still comes first for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development Program. The new title is the result of a merger of the Value Added Agriculture and Local Foods teams, but their mission and goals haven’t changed. This is also true for the programs they offer, such as the Small Farms Team, which works to improve profitability and efficiency of growers across the state.

Google’s annual Economic Impact Report features one business from 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. In their 2018 report, released today, the featured Iowa business is North Liberty's Colony Pumpkin Patch.

Weeds compete with small fruit plants for the elements needed to grow and produce fruit, which means gardeners need to be diligent about weed control. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provide weed control options for gardeners with strawberries, raspberries and vineyards. 

Would you sleep with cows? Yes?  No? Maybe, if you had a comfy bed and a private bathroom?  Sounds like New Day Dairy Bed & Breakfast located north-west of Waverly, Iowa, near Clarksville, scheduled to open this summer
Iowa's First Authentic “Farm Stay” Bed & Breakfast To Open on Central Iowa Dairy Farm
 

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Visit Iowa Farms program will hold an Agritourism Destination Safety and Health Best Practices workshop Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the ISU Extension and Outreach Black Hawk County office in Waterloo.

Our tree leaves are coming down, but don’t throw them away - put them to work for you.  We’ve talked about creating a traditional compost pile in the past, but if you only have a small amount of yard waste consider bag composting.

In our last newsletter, we introduced a series of articles about our customer service workshops, and the five steps a business must do to provide excellent service to its customers. In the May, 2018 newsletter, we highlighted the first step of excellent customer service as “Make it Your Own”. Define what you want your customers to say about you, and strategically create your business’s unique culture in a way that makes you stand out from your competition.

What is Blogging? Blogging is a personal web log that was initially used to share feelings, thoughts and ultimately opinions. Today, it has grown into a unique platform that many businesses and corporations utilize as a marketing tactic to increase visibility and growth. As blogging has become more popular, several businesses are integrating both their websites and blogs into one web presence; however blogs serve as an exclusive marketing channel that set them apart from a traditional website. Provided are just three benefits and tips to starting or improving your own business blog.

Now that we have entered Spring, being outdoors and enjoying the warmer weather is the top priority on our list. Families have begun to gather ideas on how to spend their spring and summer weekends. As an agritourism destination owner or operator, have you thought about how you will promote your destination so yours makes the list of potential visitors?

An attractive advertisement or an inviting social media post are sure to catch the attention of visitors. The more promotion and information you have readily available for interested visitors, the more likely they are to add your destination to their go-to list! To help you get started on the right foot when it comes to promoting your farm, we have compiled ideas about what you can do to get the word out about your agritourism destination.