GEORGIA — Pumpkin patches and other fall farm attractions are bringing visitors to farms across Georgia, providing additional income as farmers face rising diesel prices and other operating expenses.
In Turner County, farmer Brad Calhoun says agritourism has helped bring in revenue during the fall season.
“We’re booked solid from September 30 until November 1,” Calhoun said.
According to Calhoun, revenue from visitors has increased his farm’s income by approximately 20%.
“It has definitely helped, you know, offset some prices. I mean, it just keeps us in business. If we weren’t doing this, it would be very difficult,” Calhoun said.
However, Kelly Henry with the Georgia Farm Bureau says the additional revenue may not be enough to cover the rising costs farmers are facing.
“Just for a mid-size row crop tractor that’s 200 gallons which could be used in a day, definitely within two days, $1,248 just to fill that up,” Henry said.
While diesel prices remain a major expense, farmers are also dealing with higher costs in other areas of their operations.
“If we isolated diesel then I would say, they’d probably do it. But when we’re talking about all of the costs, I think a lot of farmers are going to have a tough year,” Henry said.
For farmers like Calhoun, income from fall attractions continues to provide financial support as operating expenses rise.
WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Rob Archer contributed to this story.