Farmers offering on-site vacation rentals to combat rising costs

As farmers across the country face rising costs, some are turning to tourism to bring in money beyond their traditional agricultural operations.

Guests can explore the property, pet and feed the horses or pay extra for horsemanship and riding lessons.

"You have access to the farm life, the horses, the barns," Ralph said.

"If I didn't have the short-term rentals associated with the riding program, I would have to probably liquidate, sell the horses, sell the property," she said.

According to USDA data cited in Airbnb's report, households associated with intermediate farms, a category of smaller operations where farming is the principal operator's primary occupation, reported a median loss of approximately $2,800 from farming in 2024.

"Many families are looking for ways to diversify income, and so bringing people out to the farm or ranch for some is a way to help bring in other dollars," Haight said.

Demand for farm stays is growing, according to Airbnb, which reported that online searches increased 61% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.

The company says the typical farm stay host earned approximately $8,000 in 2025, while U.S. farm stay hosts collectively earned nearly $120 million. Those figures represent hosting earnings, not necessarily profits after expenses.

The money helped her build a greenhouse, start selling herbs and maintain blueberry plants.

"The extra income actually has allowed me to invest, in many improvements and to expand the opportunities available for guests," Lyon said.

Airbnb and American Farmland Trust's new "Farm to Stay" Grant Program will award approximately 25 to 30 grants of up to $10,000 each, with applications opening in November.

Haight said the grants may not cover every expense associated with welcoming visitors, but could help farmers in other ways, such as assisting in renovating barns for events, installing fencing or preparing accommodations for overnight guests.

The benefits could also extend beyond individual farms. Haight said visitors may spend money at nearby restaurants, shops and other businesses, bringing additional tourism dollars into rural communities.

Ralph said welcoming guests has allowed her to continue sharing her passion for horses while maintaining the property she loves.

"The short-term rental has totally facilitated my being able to stay here and do the things that I love," she said.