Wed, Feb 22 2006

Brand your farm equipment

The farmers and ranchers of the area are getting some much-needed help to fight agricultural crime. The Action Project's web site says you can get help to mark a registered number on everything from backhoes to saddles that will help track the equipment in the event of theft. I know of someone who had a piece of heavy equipment stolen some time ago, and while you'd think a backhoe would be difficult to hide there are apparently rings of thieves who know just how to fence the likes of a highly-visible machine weighing several tons.

In the days of the Old West it was imperative that ranchers brand their livestock. Now that machines and farm vehicles play such an important role in production it seems even more imperative that such items are "branded" to indicate ownership. We call them theives instead of rustlers. But they're just as detrimental to those who make a living off the land. There's one other nice thing about branding your tractor. It won't sting—not even a little bit. And it might prevent a world of hurt down the line.

posted at: 12:32 | category: /Miscellaneous | link to this entry