Harford County (Map, News) - Dawn Bero had planned to put a refrigerated building on her farm to sell produce from her farm four years ago.

Next door on the farm in Street, she planned a building for wool-spinning classes and there was going to be a 4-H classroom and petting zoo, too.

But farmers need 20 acres to process and sell items, and Bero’s farm is 14.

Farmers like Bero may ultimately be able to sell produce and run other businesses, though. A task force is forming to investigate issues that could crop up with loosening current restrictions to allow owners of 10-acre farms to process and sell goods on their property.

“That would help in a big way,” Bero said. “Right now, I’m really not encouraged to bring people onto the farm.”

County Councilman Chad Shrodes’ proposal to create the task force passed the council Tuesday night and the group should report its findings by November.

Shrodes is chair of the task force that will include Bero; David Keyes, owner of Keyes Creamery; Cybil Preston, a honey farmer; and a member of the Harford County Farm Bureau.

Bero said she was forced to buy less than 20 acres because development pressures are driving up the cost of land.

Bero also wants the task force to consider changing the minimum $15,000 annual profit farmers must make to run businesses on their farms.

It might not sound like a lot, but when depending on seasonal crops to make a living, it’s not so easy to do, Bero said.

msilvestri@baltimoreexaminer.com