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and seed, etc. They need to know what you plan to do because they will have greater liability exposure on a farm that attracts thousands of visitors.

It is important that you discuss with your insurance company what you are doing. Better yet, bring your broker out to see what you are doing. Take pictures and send them to him. What you don’t want to happen is for the insurance company to say, “I didn’t know you were doing that! Your policy doesn’t cover this kind of on-farm activity.”

Your insurer will likely want to know:

• If you charge admission. • What activities you offer. • If you sell food.

• What your security measures are if a child were to get lost on your farm. In the Corn Maze - Decision Making Tool , we will budget $300 for a $2 million liability extension to your regular farm policy. But check with your insurance company to see what they would charge.

Helpful Websites and Resources

Maze Design Companies

Here are some businesses that design mazes. Some will also help with marketing. You can also get some ideas on what they offer their customers beyond a maze.

• Hugh McPherson, Maize Quest, New Park, PA. – a GPS game that fts the same market demographics but a bit older: http://www. mazecatalog.com/producttour/ index.shtml

• Corn Mazes America, Janesville, WI: http://www.cornmazesamerica. com/predesigned_mazes.htm • The Amazing Maize Maze Co., Hummelstown, PA: http://www. americanmaze.com

• Martens Farm – Design Kits, Inman KS: http://www.123farmworks.com/ cornmazedesign.htm

• MazePlay, Firth, ID: http://www. mazeplay.com/index.php • Precision Mazes, Lee’s Summit, MO: http://precisionmazes.com • Adrian Fisher Mazes Ltd., Dorset, UK: http://www.adrianfsherdesign. com/live_site

• Saunders Farm – more than just a corn maze: http://www. saundersfarm.com

• The Garden Maze – a permanent attraction (consists of 1500 trees), Luray Caverns VA: http://www. thegardenmaze.com

Production Information

Alberta Corn Committee – have variety trials from several locations around Alberta: http://www. albertacorn.com Seeding Rate Calculator

– will calculate the amount of seed you need for planting corn and what different pieces of equipment cost to operate. We did not get into this in detail since planting corn is only a small part of operating a maze (we worked on the thumb rule that it costs about $200/ac. to plant corn): http:// www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app19/calc/crop/ otherseedcalculator.jsp

Ironsearch: The Equipment Authority – this is one source of used farm equipment. You will no doubt have more local sources: http://www.ironsearch.com

Custom Rates Survey Summary 2011 – summary of equipment costs and custom rates in Alberta (Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development): http://www.agriculture.alberta.ca and search for Custom Rates Survey