IDOA announces new agritourism tax credit

This time of year, agritourism could be a pumpkin patch. (WJBC file photo)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – A new tax credit is meant to help Illinois ag-related businesses which welcome the public.

This time of year, agritourism could be a pumpkin patch. In a few more weeks, it could be a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm. With liability insurance a must, the credit should help.

“As you can imagine, having the public come into your business – especially in America and the systems that we have built – you need to protect your business with your liability insurance policy,” said Jackie Sambursky, marketing manager at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “Those can be very expensive, so we are trying to help out and ease the burden for those expenses to reinforce and show the appreciation that we have for these businesses.”

Sambursky, who says this idea came from the Illinois Farm Bureau, says the credit is up to $1,000, and a total of $1 million is available.

www.illinoisagritourismcredit.com

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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