Category: Farm Crime

What is the importance of finance in agriculture?

Farmers have been getting squeezed over the years often experiencing lower margins on their produce.

Whereas, the cost of operating a farm requires cash injections for a variety of reasons, such as,  allowing farmers to replace machinery, invest in new efficient energy power, build new stores, purchase cattle etc.

For most farmers, accessing finance through traditional lenders such as banks is becoming more difficult and time consuming.

Using a specialist agriculture finance broker such as Richmond Asset Finance, can offer farmers preferential rates and flexible arrangements – and often much quicker.

Farm Machinery Finance by Richmond Asset Finance

Richmond Asset Finance can finance any new or used piece of agricultural machinery and equipment with no age limitation, supplied by either a specialist agricultural dealer or bought privately through a fellow farmer or auction. Manufacturers subsidised finance is periodically available through Richmond Asset Finance.

Equipment we can finance include:

  • Tractors & self propelled
  • ATV & RTV
  • Grassland machinery
  • Cultivation machinery
  • Drilling & planting machinery
  • Harvest machinery
  • Livestock handling systems
  • Robotic milking systems
  • Grading lines
  • Farm security
  • Food processing units
  • Bottling plants
  • Livestock feed systems
  • Irrigation equipment

To find out if we can help finance your farm machinery in Yorkshire contact us today!

Tip for farm crime prevention

When winter is approaching and clocks go back an hour as British Summer Time officially ends, it is a good time for farmers to review their security.

Farms in the autumn and winter months are dark and secluded places and can prove an inviting target for thieves who will be looking to steal farm vehicles, fuel, tools and equipment.

Statistically, October and November are the two months of the year when police receive more reports of burglary than at any other time.

With their isolated countryside locations, farmhouses, outbuildings, barns, garages and sheds are all prey for would-be rural thieves, who use modern technology including drones, Google Earth and sat navs to pinpoint their entry and escape routes.

But there are a variety of measures you can take to protect your property, land and livestock and discourage potential thieves.

Fuel

Fuel thieves often target farms under the cover of darkness when they are able to drain tanks within minutes if they are not properly protected.

Thieves use anything from basic plastic tubes to pumping apparatus to siphon off hundreds of litres of red diesel from tanks and farm machinery, causing huge financial loss and inconvenience for farmers.

Tip

To prevent theft, fit fuel bowsers with wheel clamps or hitch locks. Tanks should be housed in a secure location – within a shed (in line with regulations) or in a compound, such as a locked metal cage.

Consider fitting a remote fuel monitoring gauge and alarm system. Install movement sensors, CCTV and lighting around the tank.

Store machinery inside sheds using layers of security and ensure tractors are locked up at night. If machines must be kept outside, park with fuel caps against a fence or wall.

Lighting and CCTV cameras

Isolated farm buildings down dark lanes are easy for thieves to approach and hide in the darkness. Make sure you light up areas in and around your home and buildings.

Tip

Motion-sensor security lighting and CCTV cameras are a good crime prevention and detection tool. Thieves don’t want to be seen.

Install lighting and CCTV in access locations, vulnerable areas and around the perimeter of farm buildings, yards and houses. Consider audible and monitored intruder alarm systems.

With improving technology in this area and a reduction in the cost of CCTV systems, they can be bought for fairly modest sums. Many suppliers offer subscription services with text alert systems linked to mobile phones, tablets or computers, allowing you to monitor the farm 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

Farmers are embracing new technology involving infrared beams that set off voice warning systems and relay live footage to mobile phones.