What Should You Do If Someone Breaks Into Your Farm?

If you notice something is not right on the farm or you see evidence of a break-in, it’s time to activate your plan to protect your farm. 

“We’ve seen instances where activists have broken into farms and stolen livestock, but not come forward until months later. Any sign of trespassing or anything being out-of-place on your farm should put you on high alert, even if you aren’t sure it is related to activism,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, vice president, strategic engagement at the Animal Agriculture Alliance during a presentation at the Iowa Pork Congress last month.

So, how should you respond to a break-in? 

1.    Stay calm. 

2.    Contact your supervisor.
First, call your supervisor, but then call the barn owner and local authorities, she recommends.

3.    Check for cameras. 
“If you do find a camera or other recording device, it’s really important that you do not attempt to remove it yourself. Call law enforcement first so they can come out and observe its location and check for fingerprints,” she said. “Be on the lookout for cameras in any areas where animal handling occurs, especially sensitive procedures like euthanasia.”

Keep in mind that today’s cameras are very small. Activists are getting better at mounting the camera along with hotspots so they can stream footage to a cloud storage system.

4.    Focus on people care and animal care. 
Animal care and the wellbeing of employees need to remain top priorities, even in times of crisis or as you focus more on farm security, Thompson-Weeman said. 

“Being beyond reproach in terms of animal welfare and caring for the environment is not only the right thing to do, but it is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from activist issues,” she said. “Employee morale is also critical, especially during a crisis situation.”
 
5.    Put others on notice.
“Once the immediate crisis has been handled, make sure to notify your state association as well as the Animal Ag Alliance. Groups like ours can provide advice on how to proceed as well as collect information to spread the word to others who might be targeted,” Thompson-Weeman said.

If there's a known activist in the area, the pork industry has become really good at information sharing with each other. Tell neighboring growers as much as you can – whether that’s sharing makes and models of cars, license plates or descriptions of the suspect. The more information you can share with others, the more likely you’ll be able to catch the activist in action.

Don’t confront
If you are approached by an activist on your farm or catch an activist in action, don’t confront them. Remember the goal of most activists is to agitate and make you look foolish and lose your cool for the camera, Thompson-Weeman said.

“It’s almost a guarantee that if you are interacting with an activist, they are either recording you or livestreaming on social media, meaning you’re being watched by hundreds or thousands of people. They will repeatedly make accusations or ask heated questions to try to get you to react and engage with them. It’s important not to take the bait,” she said. “You do not owe them any answers, and they aren’t really interested in information anyway. Keep your cool and only interact with them to ask them to leave and notify them of trespassing.”

Having a plan in place with your team makes these situations a little easier. Know who’s going to lock the door, who will call the authorities – make sure you walk through the plan and delegate responsibilities. 

Don’t live in fear
“Don’t let the fear of animal rights activism stop you from doing the job you’re passionate about or proactively engaging with consumers and influencers about pork production,” Thompson-Weeman said. “You might never encounter any of these issues, and I hope you don’t, but if you do you will be very thankful that you took the time to create a plan.”

Read more:

When Something’s Not Right: 5 Ways to Protect Your Farm From an Activist Attack

The Evolution of Animal Activism on Farms

Protect Yourself from Online Activism

What’s Next for Animal Activism in 2021 and What Can We Do About It?