By Clint Thompson
Fall is a busy time of year for farmers. It is harvest season for crops like peanuts and cotton. Fall vegetables are in the ground. Pecan harvests will begin ramping up soon as well.
Producers must be aware that their tractors and other farm equipment are at risk as well. Alabama Extension cautions growers about farm equipment theft. Certain pieces of equipment are vulnerable to being stolen, according to Aaron Wells, an agronomic crops agent with Alabama Extension at Auburn University.
“Especially at this time of year, with harvest season getting kicked off, we have a tendency to not park equipment at our farmstead or at the barn, a central location that a lot of times is well lit or behind locked gates or where there’s a lot of traffic coming in and out,” Wells said. “Typically, equipment can be left in fields for overnight or maybe even over the weekend. This time of year, things may be more susceptible, and I would definitely say, smaller items especially like ATVs and side by sides, utility trailers, maybe service trailers, diesel tanks … those items that are real easy to hook to and go, people just need to be mindful of that.
“If they’re in one place for a couple of days in a row, somebody is close by and can see what the pattern of what they do is, they think, ‘These guys don’t show up until 8 a.m. in the morning. They go to eat lunch about 11:30, come back about 12:30.’ Just breaking up a routine would help folks a lot, not being as predictable, especially if they’re in one location for multiple days.”
Make It Less Enticing to Steal
Alabama Extension reminds farmers that the best way to protect equipment is to make it less enticing to steal. This includes keeping equipment out of plain sight and behind a locked gate. Also, don’t leave keys accessible to vehicles or pieces of equipment.
“Leaving keys in things, leaving doors unlocked, that’s opening up the door for people who just want to go for a joy ride,” Wells said.