Rural thieves target hay as price soars

The UK’s biggest rural insurer is getting reports of a spate of hay thefts and is urging to farmers and horse owners to take extra precautions to guard their stocks.

The thefts are being blamed on a dry spring that has resulted in a shortage of hay which has caused prices to soar. There is also a lack of carry-over stock  because  of  last year’s  wet summer. The result is that hay  prices are up to 40 percent higher than last year.

NFU Mutual said reports  have  already  been  received  of  hay  and  straw theft in the Berkshire and North Yorkshire areas. It predicts the trend will escalate given the prospect that  hay and straw could become even more scarce over the next few months.

The thefts have so far affected mainly horse owners and smallholders who use small bales, but farmers who use larger bales ‘could well’ be affected if the trend continues, the insurer warned.

In light of this, NFU Mutual is advising its customers to think about ways of securing their hay, straw, bedding and forage:

• Securing the area around the buildings where hay and straw are kept should be a priority. Although hay is a difficult commodity to secure in closed barns, due to its combustible properties, use the best technology you can afford to protect the surrounding area - installing intruder sensors, CCTV cameras and security lighting can all help secure the  area;
• Hay and straw stacks in open fields or in roadside barns are particularly vulnerable. One hay producer in Warwickshire has already moved all his hay from a roadside storage facility to his farm following a spate of thefts of small-bale hay. Hay and straw should be removed from fields as soon as possible after harvesting;
• A quick and simple survey around the farm will identify areas where a thief could strike.
• Replace or re-site security and warning notices;
• Where practical, cutting the string of small-bale hay or straw will make it virtually impossible for anyone to walk off with it;
• Marking bales of haylage, bedding and feed with spray paint or permanent marker will make it identifiable and less attractive to thieves;
• Use lockable, metal feed bins to store bags of feed;
• Be wary of anyone calling on the ‘off chance’ or looking around the property. Take note of them and the registration number of any vehicle used. Tell police about anything you feel is suspicious.
• Make sure you review your current insurance arrangements to ensure you have adequate cover in place.

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name