News Release Distributed 10/04/11
MONROE, La. – Expanding the outdoor recreation industry on agricultural lands brings in revenue to help local economies, experts said at a paddling and canoeing business opportunities workshop.
Presented by the LSU AgCenter and Mississippi State University’s Natural Resource Enterprises Program Sept. 28-29 at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the workshop focused on developing agritourism enterprises for wildlife and water systems on farmlands, said LSU AgCenter agritourism coordinator Dora Ann Hatch.
Outdoor recreation is big business in the United States, said Daryl Jones, director of Mississippi State University’s Natural Resource Enterprises Program. “In Louisiana, hunting generates $526 million,” he said, “And angling generates $1.01 billion.”
“From all indications, these numbers aren’t going away,” Jones said. Fee fishing is growing in demand, and birding continues to grow in popularity.
Eight million acres in Louisiana are leased for hunting, ranging from $5 to $70 an acre, said LSU AgCenter wildlife specialist Don Reed. Things for landowners to consider before leasing include liability and insurance, pricing based on the quality of the habitat and game, financing, labor, property issues such as unclear boundary lines and amenities.
Most leases are annual. “Have a signed legal document; that is, the lease agreement,” he said. “Study what others have done as a guide.”
Reed reminded participants to explore government incentive programs that encourage private landowners to participate in conservation activities on their property.
“People lease your land for a whole lot of other values,” Reed said, citing a Mississippi survey that showed the No. 1 reason people hunt is to escape social pressures. Harvesting ranked 11th of 19 items, taking risks ranked 18th and escaping family was last.
Land available for leasing is valuable because of the spread of cities, said attorney Mike Massey. “Don’t get to thinking the people who only want to lease are your neighbors. People will travel.”
“Don’t over-panic about liability,” he added. “It’s my opinion people over-concern themselves.”
Be careful with “cookie cutter leases that you can download on the Internet,” he said.
“Do common sense things,” he said. “Inspect tree stands. Document it. Safety should be the No. 1 priority, not food plots.”
Enforce the rules, Massey said. “If you’re not going to enforce them, they’re just suggestions.”
Every state has enacted statutes that confer some degree of liability protection to landowners who allow the general public to enter upon or make use of their land for recreational purposes, said Rusty Rumley, an attorney with the National Ag Law Center.
Paddle trails are a good mix for other agritourism, agricultural and ecotourism efforts, said Tom Potter, executive director of North Carolina Paddle Trails. “Water transportation is a rapidly growing component of tourism.”
Paddlers spend about $88 a day in the community and look for other things to do, such as eating local food and exploring historical attractions. “You can only lie on the beach so many days before you get crispy,” Potter said.
The average paddler is 49 years old with an average household income of $75,000 a year, he said. They make 11 trips a year with an average group size of four.
Nationally known river guide John Ruskey said all it takes to get started is one canoe. “The best part is getting close to nature, seeing the sunset and enjoying the sunrise.”
Ruskey said his customers enjoy camping, birding, star gazing and beach combing. He also has hosted film crews, full-moon floats, bachelor parties, weddings, yoga and artist retreats, and cleanups.
Stephanie Herrman with the D’Arbonne Kayak Club said she has witnessed a deer giving birth on the water’s edge and paddled in costume under a full moon. Kayakers are planning events with the 4-H Club, whereas, Lynne Warnock-Dorsey, executive director of the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau, has worked with 4-H to create wood duck boxes at mile markers.
State parks provide venues for paddling, “probably more in line with novice paddlers,” said Stuart Johnson of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Many have overnight facilities and kayak and canoe rentals.
“There is a state park within an hour of anyone,” Johnson said.
Bob Strader of St. Catherine’s Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Natchez, Miss., said the refuge is trying to get children outside for activity, education and photography. And Jean Mikeal of the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge said she is trying to get more school students and 4-H’ers to visit.
Black Bayou has 10 activity stations for children on a wildlife challenge trail where they can compare their abilities to those of wildlife, said refuge ranger Gay Brantley. In addition to having fun while exercising, children learn about wildlife, their habits and habitats.
Adam Rohnke, a wildlife extension specialist at Mississippi State University, discussed trail designs and opportunities for bird-watching enterprises. He suggested loops and curves rather than straight lines.
Rohnke said 80 percent of people don’t know how to use binoculars, and 8X is enough to see birds.
Charles Allen of Allen Acres Natural Area and Bed and Breakfast gave a testimonial on his 26-acre Vernon Parish venture, which offers edible plant, woody plant and wildflower identification workshops; a butterfly blast; gourds; champion trees; yard art; chickens and guinea fowl.
Allen is on MarketMaker, a free online tool for producers, businesses and consumers.
“Marketing really drives the engines,” Hatch told participants.
Carrie Castille, deputy assistant commissioner in the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, discussed Louisiana’s agritourism limited liability legislation and said she hopes to see more creative enterprises.
Steven L. Windham with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor asked the ecotourism advisory committee to submit its trail criteria, along with suggestions for signage for trails and a plan for getting more descriptive trails.
“We had two people travel from Los Angeles who plan to relocate in Breaux Bridge,” Hatch said. “With the help of our workshop and the networking, they feel comfortable in pursing their dream of developing an outfitting business.” They expect to open in 2012.
“It is timely to discover these types of adventures and look at ecotourism, conservation and stewardship,” said LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor Dwight Landreneau. “Farmers were the first conservationists.”
People come to Louisiana because of outdoor recreation, Landreneau said. “The trend in tourism is nature-based tourism.”
Mary Ann Van Osdell