Each year, the Farm Service Agency fields numerous phone calls from individuals interested in starting a farming operation.

Generally, most of the callers are from Allegheny County and the perspective farmer wants to produce some type of specialty crop.

In many cases, a market has already been secured for the crop to be produced. What is lacking is financing, farm experience and farm management. Adapting to a sharp learning curve may be insurmountable.

To assist new producers, Pennsylvania Farm Link is conducting a Specialty Crop Beginning Farmer Workshop for Western Pennsylvania on March 5.

Some of the topics to be discussed are business and market planning; leasing and leasing documents; database of available farms; liability issues; accounting and record-keeping tools; crop insurance; farmer panel; and available resources.

It will be a full day of informative workshops at the Big Red Barn, Donohoe Center, 218 Donohoe Road, Greensburg.

The event will run from 9:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The registration fee of $20 includes lunch and can be completed online at www.pafarmlink.org.

You may contact the Farm Service Agency for a copy of the brochure at 724-482-4800, Ext. 2.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.