Security is incredibly important for farms and other agricultural environments. Video surveillance can help ensure farm operations run smoothly, making certain that consumers receive a safe quality product in the end, while protecting animals, equipment and facilities from harm and misuse.
Benefits of Farm and Stable Security Cameras
Monitor for intruders – Strategically placed security cameras will capture images of anyone entering the property. This coverage helps to ensure that only authorized workers gain access to the farm and its facilities.
Protect water supplies – A well-protected water supply is critical to agricultural operations. Video surveillance can play an important role in protecting this highly-sensitive area.
Prevent break-ins – The mere presence of security cameras can deter break-ins. For those intruders who look past the cameras, the surveillance footage can capture them in the act.
Deter theft – Video surveillance in areas such as holding pens, calving pens, tool shops, and gates will help to prevent thieves from stealing animals and equipment.
Monitor daily operations – Security cameras can also ensure that daily operations such as milking and feeding run smoothly.
Employee monitoring – Video surveillance can be used to monitor employee behavior so that critical farm operations are properly carried out.
Remote playback and monitoring – With an IP-based surveillance system, farm owners can monitor their property remotely. Footage can be stored digitally and easily searched in cases requiring visual evidence.
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
Barn Surveillance Camera Risks
Vandalism and tampering – If a security camera is vandalized or tampered with, the signal could be lost. Consider vandal-proof housing for cameras located in high-risk areas.
Weather – Weather-proof cameras might be required for certain locations. Farm surveillance can pose challenges for cameras not equipped to handle low temperatures and changing weather conditions.
Locations to consider for farm cameras are:
Milk House - Monitor tanks for sabotage and to ensure that milk samples are being taken correctly. Depending on the situation a second camera may be used to monitor the wash area.
Water Supplies - Secure high problematic areas.
Parlor - (usually takes 2 cameras) - Is procedure being followed correctly by all shifts? Parallel parlors will place a camera at each end looking in toward the center and herringbone parlors will place one at the entrance and one in the center looking toward the back).
Holding Pen - Usually putting the camera off to one side will give a better view of the entire pen. (many times a wide angle lens may be needed)
Break Room & Time Clock - Prevent "double-punching" on the time clock and abuse of paid breaks.
Driveways - Know who is coming and going when you aren't there.
Calving Pens - We've seen instances of calves being stolen from these pens at night.
Also, are these animals being checked when they are supposed to be?
Feed Lanes - Monitor feed push up times. How long were they out of feed?
Barn Entrances - Be sure no unauthorized people are coming into restricted areas. (bio security)
Shops - Find out why your tools are disappearing.
Lagoons - Safety. Be sure nobody opens a valve and causes a disaster!
Gates - Who left the gate open and let the cows out?
Fuel Tanks - Who is getting fuel that should be?
Monitoring your farm by computer
The internet is providing the ability to dial up through a computer and check the status of your water troughs, dam levels, automatic irrigation, stock condition, farm security and weather conditions.
This is achieved through the use of remote sensing devices and cameras, solar panels, mobile phones and short distance wireless technology. All the information is accessible from your personal computer.
The modern camera has been miniaturised and digitised and is no longer the bulky apparatus it once was. It no longer depends on film. The still or video images can be transferred electronically through telephone lines or via a mobile phone link to a computer located on the farm or located somewhere else even a city office. The technology behind the security camera in a city shopping mall, bank or petrol station can now be brought to the farm for a host of roles.
Farm security. Your stock are valuable. Stock thieves and poachers realise this and stock losses are a constant risk of farming. The security problem is that stock thieves do not drive to work through the front gate of your property but may come at night via a secluded gateway.
Miniature cameras can be sited to observe these gates. They are so small that the thieves are unaware of their presence. The cameras can be linked with laser beams which detect the movement of a vehicle at the gateway much like the laser beam that sounds the buzzer when you drive through the bottle shop. As soon as the laser beam detects a vehicle it starts the camera and dials into the computer by mobile phone, land line or wireless technology. Images showing who is entering your property and when are recorded for your immediate response or to assist with police investigations.
Using the internet it is possible to dial in to the remote sensors and take a routine look at what is going on.
The usefulness of remote sensing devices becomes more important as the value of your stock rises. For the highest value stud animals the use of internet monitoring becomes essential and cameras may not only be located at the remote entrances but also around stock pens and stables. The view from the sensors can be accessed at any time via the internet.
Concealment. The type of camera that can be used for security purposes is getting smaller. For such purposes as detecting trespassing the small size gives an advantage that the camera can be easily concealed. For a security purpose it may be more effective having a concealed camera rather than a large camera in open view. With a concealed camera the thieves can be observed remotely without them knowing they have been detected.
One method of concealment may be to hide the sensor split log or fence post near a gateway so only the tiny lens is visible. Other methods may include hiding the camera in an old can, in a nearby shed or in objects like mail boxes.
Water troughs. The need to know the state of water troughs is critical for stock management. It is even more critical for a stock owner who only visits the farm on the weekend and spends the week days away at another job. Stock left without water for a week will uncertainly not be alive when the farmer calls out next weekend. The farmer faced with this situation can dial up the sensing devices using the internet and down load images of how the water troughs are looking at any particular moment. If the troughs are fine then the farmer can relax and get on with his/her other work. If there is a problem the farmer can phone a contractor or neighbour at the farm and arrange for the problem to be fixed.
When using a remote camera to check on things like water troughs, it is not necessary for the camera to be hidden. What is necessary is for the camera to be located so that it is stock proof. The structure supporting the camera - such as a steel pole - should be in such a position that the camera can get a wide view of the trough generally and that the viewer can also clearly see the water level. The structure must be sturdy so that it can with-stand the occasional steer having an afternoon rub and it must hold the camera high enough above the ground so to be out of stock reach. The lens needs to be protected from bird droppings.
Monitoring other farm sites. The same technology used to monitor security and water toughs can also be used to monitor a whole range of other aspects such things as; birthing yards, dams, machinery sheds, irrigation lines, crop progress, fence lines, windmills and the homestead.
Internet climate monitoring. Using a different range of sensors the internet can also be used to monitor the weather and growing conditions on your property. A sophisticated series of probes and sensors has been developed to report environmental conditions in the fields on your property.
The types of sensors can detect current temperature, recent temperature movements, rainfall, soil humid-ity at different depths in the profile, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, evaporation rate and hours of sunlight.
All the information gathered automatically by the weather station is fed back to a computer on the property by low power wireless technology or though landlines.
On extensive properties where the sensors may be many miles away, satellite technology may be used to transmit the information from the site to the computer. With small farms, however, low power wireless or landlines may be more appropriate.
The information stored in this way can then be down loaded automatically. In this way it is possible for you to access the information over the internet from your remote location. It would even be a simple matter to monitor the precise weather conditions on your farm from overseas.
Conclusion. Modern remote sensors and internet technology have given us the ability to dial up our farm from anywhere in the world. It is easy for us to have a look around even though we may not be there is person or be likely to visit for days or weeks.
Threats to farm security can come from many sources. Intentional destruction or contamination of livestock is a possibility that producers must guard against. Safe substances may be used to produce unsafe or harmful combinations if used incorrectly or indiscriminately. These include chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal drugs. Farm management should secure and account for such products and report anyone acting suspiciously or wishing to obtain abnormal quantities of any substances.
According to the American Feed Industry Association's Guide to Biosecurity Awareness, animals and feed ingredients may become adulterated by the following means:
Biological (bacteria, toxins, viruses, parasites, etc.)
Chemical (classical chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, such as pesticides, rodenticides, and heavy metals)
Radiological (agents that can be delivered in liquid or solid form)
Physical (metals, glass, and plastic)
Practice Farm Security
Ensuring the physical security of buildings and grounds is an important step in overall farm security. A conscious effort should be taken to assess and control security risks by recognizing and anticipating security issues before they surface.
Have only one entry/exit from the farm that is clearly defined with signage.
Consider using security lighting, perimeter fencing, and controlled gate access.
Use electronic security devices, such as motion detectors, door alarms, video cameras, and alarms linked to an off-site security system.
Padlock and limit entry into vital storage areas such as milk rooms and feed storage areas.
Install entry prevention devices on exterior ladders, protecting them from unauthorized use and preventing access to the top of bulk storage tanks.
Padlock entry and discharge points of exterior liquid tanks (above and below ground) when not in use.
Lock all vehicles parked outside at night or during times of owner and employee absence.
Secure or park containers inside, whether they are empty or loaded with product.
Request local law enforcement to patrol farm perimeter at irregular times if there are perceived threats.
Encourage employees to report suspicious behavior.
Restrict access to computer data systems, secure on-line communications, and safeguard them with virus protection. Store back-up files off-site.
Consider security in construction design of new facilities.
Develop and Enforce a Visitor Policy
All visitors should check in with a designated farm representative. This procedure protects against unwanted visitors and helps account for all persons.
Post signs informing visitors where to report.
Limit access to other areas of the property by designating a specific area for visitor parking.
Maintain a record of individuals† names and companies, arrival and departure times, and purposes of the visit.
Use visitor badges or identification cards if needed and explain disease prevention to visitors.
Do not allow visitors, including delivery personnel, contract providers, and service support, to have unlimited access to the premises.
Restrict access to key areas such as milk, gasoline, and pesticide storage.
Prevent Animal Infection or Contamination
Animal infection or contamination can be either accidental or deliberate.
Know the health history of purchased animals and segregate for 3 to 4 weeks after arrival on the farm with strict health monitoring before introducing to the herd.
Maintain a vaccination program for all animals.
Know the signs of reportable and foreign animal diseases and deal with unusual signs immediately.
Provide disposable boots or disinfectant footbaths for any visitors.
Prohibit any visitor to the operation if they have been outside the continental U.S. during the past two weeks, unless they can assure you that they have not been in close proximity to hoofed animals within the past five days
Restrict access to feed storage areas and areas where animals are housed.
Secure perimeter fencing to prevent contact with livestock from neighboring farms.
Limit direct contact with wildlife, including deer and birds.
Prevent organic matter entry onto the animal facilities from sources such as vehicles, equipment, and runoff from other farms.
Know the source and quality of purchased feeds and ensure that no protein supplement derived from ruminant tissues is fed to cattle, sheep, or goats.
Develop Employee Awareness
Security awareness should be for all employees. Everyone must vigilantly monitor the activities of visitors, service providers, and fellow employees.
Ask applicants for a resume of qualifications and to complete a job application.
Conduct background checks to establish a prospective employee's qualifications and demeanor.
Institute an employment probationary period to properly evaluate a new employee's work habits.
Train employees to recognize and report suspicious individuals or abnormal activities, security breeches, suspicious materials or devices, and misplaced equipment.
Implement policies on appropriate personal protection equipment as dictated by management and required by law.
