According to WFRV News, some farmers in the state are seeing thieves stealing aluminum and copper pieces from their irrigation systems. The thefts not only lead to damaged farm equipment, but also the added cost of crops being ruined through a lack of water.
Dave Beggs owns a farm in the state and told the news station that components of his irrigation system have been stolen twice, leading to him losing more than $10,000.
"Because of the size of his farm, and the fact that equipment is being taken during the night, it's difficult to catch the bad guys," WFRV said.
Tough economic times may have led to the thefts, as increasing metal prices have caused some to turn to stripping copper and aluminum from farms and construction sites.
Furthermore, farm equipment theft is always a concern for producers. However, there are tactics they can use to prevent that from happening, including disabling machinery that is not being used.
