Your next source of farm income might not be from a field of corn or a pen of cattle. It might come from a guest checking in for the weekend.
American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Airbnb are convinced there’s opportunity in that idea. Their new Farm to Stay grant program will offer grants of up to $10,000 each to help eligible U.S. producers create or expand farm stays and agricultural experiences, according to Ashley Brucker, AFT’s senior manager of grantmaking, brighter future fund.
“This is going to be an opportunity for working farms and ranches across the country to create or expand farm stays or experiences where it makes sense for them,” Brucker tells Andrew McCrea, host of Farming The Countryside.
Growing Interest in Agritourism
The grant program offers farmers a way to diversify their businesses, generate additional income and introduce consumers to agriculture. Grants are intended for working farms and ranches — not hobby farms or properties used solely for personal enjoyment.
Interest in farm stays is surging. Google searches for “farm stay” have quadrupled since 2018. According to Airbnb, the “typical U.S. farm-stay host” earned approximately $8,000 in 2025 from hosting on its platform.
For some operations, that income could provide a useful supplement to crop production, particularly as row-crop growers contend with tight margins and rising costs.
“We recognize this isn’t the best fit for everybody,” Brucker says. “But for those seeking to diversify their income streams, or who need a safety net to offset challenges that farmers and ranchers face every day, this might be the right fit.”
Flexible Options for Operations
The program doesn’t prescribe a single model. Possibilities range from overnight accommodations to activities that give visitors a closer look at agricultural production.
Farmers might convert an unused barn room into guest lodging, upgrade an existing rental or develop accommodations in a renovated grain silo. Other operations might offer experiences such as goat yoga, pick-your-own produce, pumpkin patches or corn mazes.
“It really is going to be up to our producers—what fits with their lifestyle and what they want to offer,” Brucker says.
The program is open to farms of all sizes and production types, including small diversified operations, large grain farms and ranches. Applicants don’t need livestock or an existing lodging business, but the operation must be a working agricultural business that has earned more than $1,000 annually.
Do Your Homework First
Before applying, farmers must research applicable zoning rules, legal requirements, safety considerations and potential financial or tax implications.
“We are not financial advisors. We are not tax professionals. We’re not zoning professionals or legal professionals,” Brucker says. “I would really encourage applicants to talk to their financial advisor, talk to their legal advisor, and make sure it’s the right fit.”
AFT and Airbnb will offer educational webinars to help interested producers understand the opportunity and identify questions they should investigate before applying.
Application Timeline
‘Farm to Stay’ Grant applications will open in November. The program is expected to be highly competitive, with AFT planning to review only a few hundred applications before closing the window. Up to 30 grants will be awarded.
“This is probably the most interest that I have seen in one of our national grants thus far,” Brucker says. “My advice is going to be for folks to apply early.”
Application guidelines and resources will be available several weeks before the opening date. Farmers can find program information and webinar registration at farmland.org/farmtostay.
For more details, catch the discussion between Brucker and Andrew McCrea on Farming The Countryside, available at the link below:
