Top Stories

Online fraudsters: What the farming community can do to stay safe

28 Nov 201707:00

As Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments start to land in farmers’ bank accounts this month, Alex Black looks into the threat posed by fraudsters and what the agricultural community can do to stay safe.

Farmers warned by police as barn set on fire and bales slashed

08 Aug 201716:40

A police investigation has been launched after a barn was set on fire and bales were slashed at a farm in Derbyshire.

farm life Rural crime

Police issue warning over bogus HS2 officials targeting farms

09 Aug 201716:15

Police have issued a warning over bogus HS2 officials targeting farms in the UK.

farm life Rural crime

Criminals 'stake out' farmers' homes and businesses as rural crimewave spirals

14 Aug 201715:08

Rural communities fear they are being ‘staked out’ by brazen thieves ready to pounce when an opportunity arises, a new survey by NFU Mutual has revealed.

farm life Rural crime

Injured sheep found in car boot put down after police helicopter search - three arrested

14 Aug 201710:15

An injured sheep had to be put down after police found it in the boot of a car.

farm life Rural crime

Police appeal: 134 sheep worth almost £10,000 stolen from farm

14 Aug 201715:07

Police are appealing for information after 134 sheep were stolen from a farm.

farm life Farm safety livestock Rural crime Scotland sheep

CCTV FOOTAGE: Stolen farm vehicle used to steal ATM from supermarket

15 Aug 201710:25

Police have released CCTV footage of a gang stealing a cash machine from a supermarket using a stolen farm vehicle.

farm life Rural crime

Improving rural security: Nine ways to keep your farm vehicles safe

15 Aug 201711:45

Good security is crucial to protecting your property. But as no two farms or rural businesses are the same, there’s no standard, one-size-fits-all solution.

Advice farm life Handy hints Machinery Rural crime

UPDATE: Man apologises for 'genuine misjudgement' after viral RSPCA sheep video

24 Aug 201710:10

A man has apologised to the RSPCA after footage of him throwing a sheep into a field went viral.

farm life livestock Rural crime

Farmer furious after ten lambs attacked and killed by loose dogs

22 Aug 201710:25

A farmer has been left ’mad, upset and angry’ after ten of his lambs were attacked and killed by loose dogs.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

Young farmer left devastated after pony stabbed to death in 'deliberate attack'

23 Aug 201714:34

A young farmer has been left ’extremely upset and shaken’ after her Shetland ponies were stabbed and slashed in a ’deliberate attack’.

farm life Rural crime

CCTV APPEAL: Police hunting three men after suspected arson attack on farm

23 Aug 201714:15

Police have released CCTV footage of three men they would like to speak to after a suspected arson attack at a farm.

farm life Rural crime

Men charged after stolen farm equipment worth £20,000 recovered at auction

25 Aug 201711:25

Three men have been charged with conspiracy to handle stolen goods after farm equipment worth more than £20,000 was recovered at auction.

farm life Rural crime

Farmers urged to take precautionary measures to combat arson attacks

29 Aug 201715:25

The CLA is urging farmers to take precautionary measures during harvest and beyond in order to reduce their chances of being a victim of arsonists.

Advice arable farm life Harvest Rural crime

CLA demands tougher penalties for farmland fly-tippers

31 Aug 201709:00

The CLA has demanded that criminals who illegally dump waste on farmers’ land have their vehicles seized.

Business farm life Politics Rural crime

Furious farmer takes to social media after savage dog attack on sheep

04 Sep 201716:30

An angry farmer has issued an appeal on Facebook after a loose dog attacked and killed his sheep.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

IN PICTURES: £150,000 worth of straw destroyed in suspected arson attack

04 Sep 201716:35

Ten thousand straw bales worth more than £150,000 have been destroyed after a suspected arson attack.

farm life Rural crime

Farm advice: How to spot cyber crime and what to do

05 Sep 201715:03

Being targeted by scammers is, unfortunately, something which happens often in today’s society.

Advice farm life Handy hints Rural crime

VIDEO: Mystery as butchered and dismembered sheep found by dog walker

08 Sep 201715:20

An appeal for information has been launched after a dog walker found butchered and dismembered sheep remains in a field.

farm life livestock Rural crime sheep Welfare

Farm tips: What to do if your animals are attacked by dogs

13 Sep 201710:20

Use leads when near livestock - it may seem obvious but it’s advice not always heeded by the public.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Scotland sheep Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

Nearly 200 pigs stolen from farm overnight - police investigation launched

13 Sep 201715:12

A police investigation has been launched after 178 pigs were stolen from a farm overnight during a ’professional raid’.

farm life livestock Pig Rural crime Welfare

Farmer warns of battery thieves after three combines targeted in same night

18 Sep 201715:45

The arable farmer warned harvesters to up safety measures after intruders stole the batteries and radio from the farm combine.

farm life Machinery Rural crime Scotland

500 tonnes of straw set alight in suspected arson attack on farm

21 Sep 201715:30

A police investigation has been launched after 500 tonnes of straw was set alight in a suspected arson attack on a farm.

farm life livestock Rural crime

Changes to Highway Code could reverse sheep worrying trend

24 Sep 201707:00

Official changes to footpath legislation have been put forward as a possible tool against the rising levels of livestock worrying incidents in the countryside.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Sheep worrying Take The Lead

Fire engines to carry oxygen masks for livestock as rural crime increases

26 Sep 201709:45

Oxygen masks designed to fit household pets and livestock will be carried by fire engines to help animals suffering from smoke inhalation after a blaze.

farm life livestock Rural crime

Police hunting gunman after lamb shot in the head on farm

03 Oct 201713:50

Police are hunting a gunman after a lamb was shot in the head in an execution-style killing on a farm.

farm life livestock Rural crime sheep

Couple banned from keeping farm animals after pigs and sheep found in 'horrific' conditions

03 Oct 201714:20

A couple have been banned from keeping farm animals for 10 years after trading standard officers found animals in the ’most horrific conditions’ they had ever experienced.

farm life livestock Pig Rural crime sheep Welfare

Suffolk police arrest four hare coursers after chase across two counties

12 Oct 201711:19

Three men and a teenage boy have been arrested for hare coursing in Suffolk.

Rural crime

Farmer, 82, bitten on face by dog after trying to protect sheep

18 Oct 201713:45

An elderly farmer was bitten on the face by a dog he was attempting to save his sheep from.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

BANNED: Former shepherd allowed dogs to run wild and terrorise farmers' sheep

24 Oct 201715:05

A retired shepherd has been banned from being alone with dogs after he failed to stop his own pets worrying other farmers’ sheep.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime sheep Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

JAILED: Herdsman causes £47,000 worth of damage after crashing tractor into house

25 Oct 201715:27

A herdsman who ploughed his tractor into a house before fleeing the scene was moments from killing or injuring a woman inside.

farm life livestock Rural crime

Fly-tipper caught by police after farmer blocks road with tractor

27 Oct 201714:40

A fly-tipper was caught by police after a quick-thinking farmer blocked his escape with a tractor.

arable dairy farm life livestock Rural crime

Brexit squeeze on manufacturer margins could increase food fraud

01 Nov 201711:04

A combination of price pressures brought about by Brexit could push manufacturers to commit food crime, according to an experienced fraud investigator.

Brexit Business farm life livestock Politics Rural crime

Police launch month-long livestock worrying campaign

01 Nov 201714:00

A month-long campaign has been launched by Police Scotland to raise awareness among dog owners about the devastating effects of livestock worrying.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Scotland sheep Sheep worrying Shows & Sales Take The Lead

UPDATE: Attempted murder investigation after man shot from behind on farm

01 Nov 201714:20

A 41-year-old man has been shot on a farm in an attack which police are treating as attempted murder.

farm life Rural crime Scotland

Three arrested in poultry industry modern slavery enquiry

03 Nov 201709:20

Three people have been arrested in Kent in connection with a Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority investigation into modern slavery in the poultry industry.

farm life livestock poultry Rural crime

Pregnant heifers lose calves after being choked and tormented by farm intruders

06 Nov 201711:40

A farm owner has been left distraught after her cattle were choked and tormented by intruders.

farm life livestock Rural crime Welfare

Farmer who protected sheep from dog attack landed with breach of the peace fine

08 Nov 201714:10

He was hit with disbelief when he was landed with the fine following a bust up with the dog’s owners.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime sheep Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

Man, 41, arrested in connection with farm fire which burned for two weeks

08 Nov 201714:00

A 41-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a farm fire which burned for more than two weeks.

farm life Rural crime

Huge spike in number of farm fires sparks safety warning

13 Nov 201706:00

NFU Mutual said electrical faults and arson are the main causes.

arable dairy farm life Farm safety livestock Rural crime Scotland

Escaped dog to be put down after savaging nine sheep - killing three

15 Nov 201710:45

Sheep worrying was firmly in the spotlight this week as a police rural crime team live-tweeted the aftermath of a dog attack.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime sheep Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

Dog owners could face harsher penalties as new livestock worrying legislation proposed

17 Nov 201705:30

Dog owners whose pets attack farm animals could face harsher penalties under new legislation proposed by a cross-party group of MPs.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Scotland sheep Sheep worrying Take The Lead

Burglar crashes stolen quad bike into wall after being chased by farmer and son

21 Nov 201714:30

A man burgled an isolated farm then jumped onto a stolen quad bike to escape when the owner and his son gave chase.

farm life Rural crime

Farm fly-tipper gets off scot-free due to data protection rules

22 Nov 201711:20

A fly-tipper who dumped rubbish on a Devon farm has escaped punishment because the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) refused to release the culprit’s name to police on data protection grounds.

Business farm life Politics Rural crime

Dog owners warned by police after 16 sheep worried to death on farm

22 Nov 201715:10

Dog walkers have been warned by police after 16 sheep were found dead on a farm in Hampshire.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime sheep Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

OPEN LETTER: Sheep worrying isn’t just a blood-stained rabid dog ripping livestock apart

06 Dec 201710:00

To see your livestock so traumatised and petrified, as a farmer, is both upsetting and makes your blood boil.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Scotland sheep Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

VIDEO: Police find £1.5million cannabis factory at UK chicken farm - six arrested

07 Dec 201709:25

Police have discovered one of the county’s ’largest and most sophisticated’ cannabis factories during a raid at a chicken farm.

farm life Rural crime

Sheep with 'horrific injuries' put down after spate of dog attacks

13 Dec 201709:35

Police officers have issued a warning to dog walkers after a number of sheep with ’horrific injuries’ were put down following dog attacks.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

Stolen tractor used to ram raid cash machine at petrol station

18 Dec 201708:00

A farmer has spoken out after his tractor was stolen by criminals who used it to ram raid a petrol station cash machine.

farm life Machinery Rural crime

Man charged and dogs 'destroyed' after 37 lambs killed in savage attack

18 Dec 201714:20

A man has been charged and two dogs ‘humanely destroyed’ after they attacked and killed 37 lambs on a farm.

Campaigns farm life livestock Rural crime Scotland sheep Sheep worrying Take The Lead Welfare

Man 'forced to work in food processing factory for six years' without access to money

19 Dec 201715:00

A suspected modern slavery victim who claims he has been living in an attic room and forced to work for the past six years has been discovered by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority investigators.

farm life Rural crime