Find tips for preventing ag theft—especially equipment and copper theft—and the hardships that come with it, on your ag operation.
“Agricultural theft…has become a serious and expanding problem across the U.S.,” shared a Growing Produce article, adding that “Each year thieves cause an estimated five billion dollars in damage across the U.S. by stealing equipment, copper wiring, fuel, and other essential materials. These losses disrupt irrigation schedules, delay harvests, and create supply chain issues that affect growers and consumers alike.” Ag law enforcement officials quoted in the article maintained that ag thefts spike during the holiday season. See the details below.
Common Ag Theft Targets and the Holidays
The article shared that “Law enforcement agencies say they are responding to more copper and equipment theft cases than ever before.” Copper theft is on the rise due to the relative ease for stripping copper and the high prices thieves can receive.
The article shared that “Copper prices range between three and five dollars per pound, making it easy for thieves to turn stolen wiring into fast cash. Irrigation pumps, electrical panels, and fencing often contain large amounts of copper. Thieves can remove wire in minutes, but repairing the damage can take weeks and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Interruptions in irrigation can reduce yield, creating long term losses for growers.”
Thieves also increase thefts during the holiday because they “know that farms are quiet when crews are off and families are away. Many growers return from long weekends to find stripped pumps, torn out wiring, or damaged panels.”
The nature of ag operations also contributes. “Stopping agricultural theft is difficult because of the remote nature of the equipment, spread across a wide tract of land. Cellular and internet connectivity can also be weak, which limits the reliability of traditional security cameras. Some rural counties have only a few sheriff’s deputies responsible for patrolling hundreds of square miles,” the article advised.
Tips to Prevent Ag Theft
Take these steps to prevent ag theft, shared from a Farm Bureau Financial Services article and Farms.com:
- Have adequate insurance.
- Utilize closed-circuit television (CCTV or other video surveillance.
- Keep farm equipment out of sight.
- Keep outbuildings, yards, and houses well-lit.
- Use a watch dog.
- Keep a record of serial numbers or log all pieces of equipment.
- Leave a security marking on equipment and register them when you can.
- Utilize a security system on copper-containing equipment, like irrigation pumps.
- Support security measures at metal recycling centers, such as photo ID and fingerprints required for those bringing in copper.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.