Struggling farmers turn to Airbnb and city dwellers to make ends meet Farmers are struggling to turn a profit after corn and soy prices sank to four-year lows in 2024.
But income from recreation and tourism can help families maintain ownership of their farms, pay off debt and provide jobs to younger generations, who sometimes prefer curating Airbnbs and building websites over monitoring soil moisture and grain futures prices, farmers said.
Many increased their revenue by $25,000 to $100,000 per year through agritourism enterprises, and some farms can make upwards of $1 million a year from running bed-and-breakfasts, pick-your-own apple orchards and other farm experiences, she said.
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.
The desire to raise children in a rural setting and share their agricultural lifestyle with visitors also motivates farmers to open their property to the public, farmers said.
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