Whether it’s locks and lights or a high-tech electronic system, your farm site needs to be protected from a variety of external threats.
Over the past 20 years, protecting your farm from criminal acts has become a highly important issue.
Common criminal activity occurring more frequently on farms include:
• Theft of anhydrous ammonia for methamphetamine production
• Theft of farm equipment or chemicals
• Arson, poisoning wells, deliberately opening chemical tank valves
• Criminal mischief involving unsecured equipment and machinery
• Destruction of confined animals, property or products
• General vandalism
“These multiple threats are real and must be addressed by all farmers,” Steve Cain, Purdue Extension Disaster Specialist and EDEN Homeland Security Project Director, says. “If an incident occurs on your property, don’t tamper with potential evidence such as footprints, dead animals or plants. In reporting the situation, ask what you should do while you wait for responders.”
A thorough security program includes access control measures, property accountability, insurance coverage and employee awareness.
Criminal activity may come from a mischief-maker, trespasser, thief or narcotics entrepreneur. Disgruntled employees, computer hackers and homegrown extremists may also cause harm at a farm site.
“Vandals and mischief-makers may be deterred by limited access to the property, no-trespassing signs, strategic lighting, random patrols and neighborhood watches,” Cain says. “When leaving equipment in a field, carefully consider how accessible or noticeable it is and what action it would take for a vandal or trespasser to reach it.”
Often, trespassers don’t intend to harm property, crops or fences. However, they may trample crops or weaken fences, leave gates open after passing through or dump contaminated trash. In many states, trespassers cannot be arrested, unless they have been forewarned to stay away. “No Trespassing” signs are important to make it clear that access to an area is restricted.
Theft of fuel, high dollar tools, computers, safes, tractors, etc. are common on the farm. Anything that can easily be picked up is subject to theft. Taking time to consider what items on the farm are vulnerable to theft can help in determining how to protect them.
Maintaining accurate inventory records helps in detecting the loss of products or tools that might otherwise go unnoticed, at least for some time. Keeping a written record of all vehicle identification numbers and license plate numbers can assist law enforcement in dealing with vehicle theft.
In the case of theft, having videos, photographs and scanned documents stored in a secure location can help in assessing the value of lost or damaged goods.
Drug-related incidents, such as theft of ammonia from isolated nurse tanks, have increased dramatically in recent years. While the monetary loss may be minimal, damage to tanks and the consequences of an ammonia release can be significant.
“Your local anhydrous ammonia supplier can help devise a plan to minimize the time that anhydrous tanks are actually on the farm,” Cain says. “It’s important to be alert to signs of tampering or anything that appears suspicious. Contacting your sheriff’s office and involving law enforcement to investigate suspicious activity or scenes is critical to apprehending perpetrators.”
Drug makers tend to leave a trail of crude collection devices, lithium batteries, mason jars, chemicals and other drug paraphernalia. This type of litter poses a threat to human safety, and cleanup can be costly.
“If you see this kind of litter on your property, don’t attempt to clean it up yourself,” Cain says. “Ask your state police for assistance. Their technicians are specially trained for this type of problem, and they may know of state or federal grants that will help pay for remediation.”
Disgruntled employees, who may have detailed knowledge of the farm site and the security system, may find easy access to critical areas. Current employees should be briefed on restricting access for any former employee in the event that they attempt to access the farm.
“Keep in mind that former employees may have keys to vehicles, equipment or facilities,” Cain says. “If you have concerns about a former employee, consider changing locks, inspection routines and security measures that would limit the person’s access to the farm site.”
If there are concerns about the potential for former employees to sabotage equipment, remove key parts of the equipment to render it inoperable. Anytime an employee voices a complaint, meet with them and listen closely to help diffuse any retaliatory tendencies.
“With new employees, check criminal records back for seven years for all counties where the person has resided,” Cain says. “Trace the social security number to verify it and the places of residence. If a new employee is driving your vehicles, check driver’s license records and their immigration status.”
For any new employee who will have access to money, computers, farm records, etc. it’s critical to investigate credit records, civil records, and employment references. Outside firms can be hired to conduct these investigations in compliance with current laws.
Simple, inexpensive protection for computers and data records are available through computer service providers. Backing computers up each week – without fail – is important. Maintaining hard copies of critical information and important records outside the home or office is also important to safeguard the information.
“Designate a safe place at a remote location and diligently maintain your records, so they’re always up to date,” Cain says. “The effort it takes for this is minor compared to the problems that could occur if you’re targeted by a computer hacker.”
Extremists, who don’t work through appropriate channels to affect change, often resort to criminal acts such as trespassing, burning buildings or releasing animals from pens and pastures. Even if extremists intend no bodily harm to others, their actions can result in severe human injury or death.
“Extremists look for soft targets, such as farms and facilities where there’s little or no security system,” Cain says. “Reviewing your operation with an informed county sheriff or state police officer can help in assessing your security risks.”
Terrorists are often skilled, trained and focus on accomplishing an idealistic goal. An Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) survey asked farmers to identify specific threats posed by terrorists. Their responses identified these current perceptions:
The likelihood of an agricultural, food or water bioterrorist attack somewhere in the USA: 86 percent.
• Are you properly prepared for agroterrorism or some other security-based even against your operation? 14 percent yes, 51 percent no, 35 percent don’t know
• If you feel your operation is at risk, which aspects do you believe are at greatest risk:
• Contamination of water 45 percent
• Loss of livestock or other animal production 44 percent
• Loss of income due to impact on commodity markets 41 percent
• Contamination of animal or crop production 31 percent
• Contamination of feed 29 percent
“Terrorists’ goals are to undermine public confidence in the safety and reliability of the nation’s food supply, to wreak large-scale economic havoc and generate political instability,” Cain says. “Government officials and university scientists are concerned that terrorists could introduce virulent forms of animal and plant diseases or chemical agents into American agriculture.”
There are also concerns about threats to drinking water supplies and power distribution systems. The direct physical risk to individual farm operations is low, but the impact of the attack on a large region or the entire country could be devastating.
“Even false rumors have caused a significant drop in market prices of impacted commodities,” Cain says. “Using good judgment in conducting your farm operation, being aware of visitors to your farm, and scouting for unusual crop or animal disorders are all ways to deter terrorist efforts.”
Unusual crop or animal diseases should be quickly reported to local Extension officials or veterinarians to effectively diagnose the disease and prevent its spread.
“The farm is still a safe place to raise a family and enjoy a wonderful way of life,” Cain says. “However, in today’s changing world, farmers must implement security measures to protect their farm, family, and neighbors. Each must do their part through preparation and planning to thwart potential attacks.”
Additional details about rural security planning are available in the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service publication, “Rural Security Planning,” found at www.extension.purdue.edu/
extmedia/PPP/PPP-64.pdf.
