Steps farmers can take to protect themselves as farm thefts rise

Jun 27, 2023

The dramatic rise in auto thefts in Ontario has been making headlines in the media recently. Thieves are getting bolder – and better – in stealing cars but are also increasingly making targets of farmers and rural property owners.

Reports of brazen farm equipment and other thefts are becoming more common, from GPS receivers and catalytic converters to trucks and livestock.

There used to be a certain amount of protection that came from living and working in rural Ontario away from urban areas and high traffic zones. Out of sight, out of mind – or so the saying goes – but it’s that rural isolation that is now increasingly making us a target as thieves have come to learn that many people in rural areas are away from their properties during the day.

I recently attended the annual conference of the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers (OACS), an organization that represents 37 crime stoppers programs across Ontario. Crime stoppers are known for their anonymous tip lines where people who’ve witnessed a crime can make a report, as well as for the cash rewards they pay if a tip leads to a crime being solved.

These local programs play an invaluable role in helping solve crimes by working with law enforcement at all levels and harnessing the power of our communities to keep people safe.

Another great way to protect yourself and your property is to take steps to prevent theft from happening in the first place. Nothing is ever foolproof, of course, but there are actions you can take to deter thieves from making you a target. If it becomes too difficult, they’ll often move on to an easier target.

Source : OFA

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?