More California farms and ranches are incorporating small-scale overnight camping into their operations. The trend comes as farms seek to diversify their incomes amid rising land ownership costs, water uncertainty and fluctuating crop prices, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. It was also boosted by Assembly Bill 518, state legislation approved last year that created a new state category for small nature-based campsites so that they no longer need a commercial occupancy permit. “It is a positive that agricultural producers may have more options to diversify their income in a way that is compatible with their farming business and that invites the public to appreciate the beauty of California’s agricultural lands,” said Rachael Callahan, statewide agritourism coordinator for the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. “It is promising that policymakers are thoughtfully engaging with how to create new opportunities for farmers and ranchers, and remove barriers, to ultimately strengthen farm viability.” 📸: Courtesy of Hipcamp Read more in Ag Alert: bit.ly/4bEZwKh #News #AgAlert #CAFarmBureau #Agritourism #FarmStays #AddedIncome #Advocacy #CropPrices