Any business that opens up always has a plan for security. There will be a plan to keep data safe and also it goes without saying that there will be security for the building itself with cameras and locks on the doors. Yet, when it comes to a farm business, security is often not considered.

With so much theft happening on vineyards where a winery can see their grape crop stolen, or new marijuana farms being targeted, it makes sense that even farms need business security systems, too. A farm is a business, too, and needs its assets and resources protected just like any other business would.

In this article, we will go over what securing a farm business entails.

1 – Secure the perimeter

The first step is to put a good fence around the perimeter of the farm. The fence should be hard to break through itself as somebody should need more than just a pair of metal cutters to be able to gain access. A chain-link fence is not going to be enough to deny access to somebody determined to drive a truck into the farm itself.

The two best options are electric fences and barbed wire fences. Although they are not impermeable, they will slow down an intruder enough to dissuade them from wanting to enter. Anything that makes them take more time than they want to get in will be enough since they fear that the time it takes to break through raises the risk of detection.

Have one gate that is secured so you can limit any other access points on the farm.

2 – Camera surveillance

Motion detection cameras are very inexpensive now and can be monitored remotely with alerts when motion is detected. These cameras can be mounted strategically around the perimeter of the fenced area so that you can get complete coverage of the entire farm.

Don’t just focus on the gate as a thief is not likely to come in through the front door. It also makes sense to have some drones that can be flown around large properties that will show you what is happening in real time so every inch of the farm is monitored.

3 – Employee background checks

Unfortunately most thefts in a business are inside jobs. Often it’s an employee that is the one to steal since they have access and don’t stand out as a threat. This is why it’s so important to make sure to go through a thorough background check of everybody who is going to potentially be hired.

Be very careful about who you decide to hire and make sure that they have good references. This includes the people who are going to be picking the produce or taking care of the livestock.

This should even include only working with vendors who do background checks on the employees that will be coming onto your farm for deliveries and sales. Every employee of your farm and of any outside organization should also be monitored during their time on your farm. Make sure that employees are required to sign off on certain processes so there is a paper trail of everything everybody is doing.

4 – No visitor policy

A lot of farmers are happy to have people come by the farm and see how the operation functions. It’s usually a good way to build goodwill with the community and help people understand what goes into getting food onto people’s tables. Unfortunately, this also invites people to scope the area and see where the vulnerabilities are.

Have a check in for people that do need to visit the farm such as government inspectors or sales people so you can vet everybody who comes into the farm premises. If possible, have the parking lot outside the perimeter of the farm.

5 – Document everything

Security doesn’t just involve protection from theft. It can even be a deterrent against threats from competition or individuals that are against what your mission is. This means that there will be times when threats happen. It is always wise to document any time you have something threatening happen so you can report specifics to the police.

Any time you receive a suspicious package meant to intimidate you, or a threatening letter or email, then make a report about it complete with description, time, and circumstances around the event. Voice calls should also note what the person sounded like, and what background noises there might be during the call.

Source: Plato Data Intelligence: PlatoData.io