VOA慢速英语20061010a

AGRICULTURE REPORT - Growing an Agritourism BusinessBy Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: Tuesday, October 10, 2006

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.




Agricultural tourism is when people visit farms for entertainment, education or just to get away from the city. Agritourism is increasingly¹ popular in the United States. It can add to farmers' profits or, in some cases, help them save their farms.

Farmers can sell farm-fresh products directly to the public. They can offer horseback riding. They can take paying visitors around their farm and explain agricultural methods. Or they can offer historic² tours; for example, if their land was a battlefield in the Civil War.

Farmers can set up petting zoos for children to learn about farm animals. Or they can offer meeting places for people to gather in pleasant surroundings³ for special events.

The Department of Agriculture says more American farmers should consider developing agritourism businesses.

Many areas welcome it. For example, the town of Summerfield, North Carolina, is near a big city, Greensboro, but still has farms. Last week the Summerfield Town Council⁴ voted to add agricultural tourism to local development ordinances⁵. Nearby areas already had rules to let farmers operate agritourism businesses.

Summerfield town planner Robin⁶ Smith says offering services and entertainment on farms can aid both the farmers and the community. Agritourism can help keep open lands from being developed. And people who visit a farm will often travel into the town center and spend money there as well.

Not too far from Baltimore, Maryland, is a place called Nixon's Farm. The land covers about sixty-seven hectares. They grow clover, corn and soybeans there. But Nixon's Farm also holds business meetings, weddings, family reunions and other events.

Randy Nixon manages the farm and the business. His parents began farming the land in nineteen fifty-two. His mother, Mildred, added the business for visitors in the nineteen seventies after his father died.

Mildred Nixon no longer cooks for visiting groups, as she loved to do. But her recipes for foods like fried⁷ chicken are still very popular with guests.

Randy Nixon says the business has become so successful, some events are already planned through two thousand nine.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. You can download transcripts⁸ and audio⁹ files of our reports at voaspecialenglish. I'm Steve Ember.

1 increasingly   

adv.逐渐地，日益地，逐渐增加地

参考例句：

• Rivers are being increasingly made use of by man. 河流正在日益为人类所利用。
• I find it increasingly difficult to live within my income.我发现靠收入过日子越来越难了。

2 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

3 surroundings   

n.周围的事物(或情况)，环境

参考例句：

• She is not very well tuned into her surroundings. 她不太适应周围的环境。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

4 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。

5 ordinances   

n.条例，法令( ordinance的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These points of view, however, had not been generally accepted in building ordinances. 然而，这些观点仍未普遍地为其他的建筑条例而接受。 来自辞典例句
• Great are Your mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Your ordinances. 诗119:156耶和华阿、你的慈悲本为大．求你照你的典章将我救活。 来自互联网

6 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

7 fried   

adj.油煎的；油炒的

参考例句：

• I ate everything fried.所有油炸的我都吃。
• I prefer fried peanuts.我选择炸花生。

8 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句

9 audio   

n./adj.音频(响)(的)；声音(的)，听觉(的)

参考例句：

• Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来，供以后查阅。
• You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。