13 Standards of Good Farm Security

5 strand barbed wire fence

"Security is the chief enemy of mortals." - William Shakespeare

If you own a small farm or even a large ranch, safety and security are very important. People may trespass on your property by accident or on purpose. Either way, it’s important that you know when people are about and what they’re doing. In this article, I present important tips to help keep you safe and secure on your farm. Read on to learn more on farm security best practices.

The Bible in Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." It is important to first know what your treasure is then understood the location of that treasure. As a smallholder farmer, I want to remind you that your treasure is hidden in the soil at your farm and so your heart must be there. Please secure your heart's treasure.

What is Farm Security?

Farm security is simply the different security measures that farmers will use to ensure the protection of their business. These farm security measures could be anything from employing security guards to do regular patrols of a farm to installing CCTV monitoring equipment across different areas of your property.

The following are what I have termed as standards of good farm security and if followed well help you. You will not regret it:

1. Put up Signs

If you want to prevent having trespassers on your property, you have to let them know where your property lines are. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in some well-made metal signs to post around the perimeters of your property. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or threatening. Plain metal signs reading “trespassers prohibited” or simply “no trespassing,” will do.

2. Create Physical Barriers and Keep Your Gates Secure

In addition to signs, you may also want to put up physical barriers if you’re concerned about break-ins or theft of equipment, livestock and the like. Of course, the most obvious physical barrier is a fence and a good gate. However, there are a number of ways to enforce your fencing and gating, say a thorny hedge or game wire. Always keep your gates locked.

3. Keep Your Farm Well Lit

In addition to perimeter lights, you should also have good lighting around your barns and outbuildings. A well-lit farm is far less likely to be preyed upon by livestock and equipment thieves.

4. Get a Backup Generator

Electrical outages are common in rural areas and can wreak havoc with farm production and also with your lighting, safety and security systems. Be sure to invest in a high quality, reliable backup generator to keep your farm and security system up and running, even after a big storm or other catastrophic event. It's recommended now to use solar lighting.

5. Get a Gun

You don’t have to be a gun enthusiast to understand the potential wisdom of having a firearm to protect your farm. If you choose to keep a gun, take the time and put in the effort to receive proper training in safe gun use. Be sure to keep weapons and ammunition properly locked up.

6. Keep a Good Dog

You don’t have to have an attack dog or a guard dog. A simple watchdog will do. A well-cared for canine family member/friend will bark and alert you to the presence of strangers, stray dogs, and the like.

7. Be Alert!

Keep your eyes open for unusual or suspicious activity. Make sure that employees know that they should inform you if they see strangers hanging around. Keep in contact with your local police to let them know about any unusual activity you see.

8. Be Safe!

When you are farming, in case you use some equipment, be sure that you know how to use all of the equipment you have on your farm. Always remember to wear proper safety gear, such as safety boots, gloves, and work boots.

9. Be Knowledgeable

Make sure that you and all workers on your farm know how to perform basic first aid. Knowing these simple, life-saving skills can be invaluable in the event of accidents, illnesses, and injuries. Your knowledge could save a life!

10. Practice a Buddy System

When you are performing tasks, or if you will be in an isolated area of your farm, don’t do it alone. Plan to have someone to help you in case of an accident. When you are working alone, let people know where you will be and what you will be doing. Give some idea of when they can expect you to return.

11. Be Ready for Fire

There are a surprising number of fire risks involved in farming, so you should be well prepared with several different kinds of fire extinguishers.

12. Hold Fire Drills

Be ready if a fire should break out. Identify any areas that do present fire hazards, such as bushes, barns, and outdoor cooking areas. Think about what you would do and how you would do it if a fire starts and gets out of control.

13. Install Security Cameras

It is now a common trend and it is becoming cheaper to set up security cameras around your farms. When coupled with an electric wire, be guaranteed that you have safety.

Your security is your safety and so worthy of investing your time and money in.

Do not wait for a thief before you set up security. Farm with safety!