More than $500,000 worth of farm chemicals have been stolen in southern Alberta this spring and a reward of $10,000 for information about the thefts has been offered by private individuals and companies.
In the past two years farm chemical thefts topped $1.5 million.
Bruce Schmaltz, who owns Beiseker Agri Services, was robbed last month. He is convinced it’s the work of a ring of thieves that know how to get past security systems and know how to sell the chemicals.
“Somebody has a fencing situation going. They have a conduit out there,” he said.
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Stolen chemicals are almost impossible to trace. The herbicides have likely been sprayed by now.
In the Schmaltz theft, chemicals were taken from Dynagra, a division of the Beiseker retailer. Thieves punched a hole in the warehouse wall, only to find boxes stacked against it. They moved farther down and cut another hole in the wall and took the herbicides.
“There’s always a fear of what would have happened if I had confronted these people,” Schmaltz said.
Rob Davies, United Grain Growers regional manager in southern Alberta, said by setting up a reward, someone will come forward.
“Somebody has heard somewhere how this happened,” said Davies.
Thefts can drive up the cost of retailer’s insurance and farmers could end up paying more for their herbicides as a result.
Davies said farmers should ask questions if they are offered cheap chemicals. If a seller says he bought too much, the farmer should ask why the excess wasn’t returned to the retailer.
The most recent heist happened at the end of May when $50,000 worth of chemicals were stolen from a quonset at Summerview Feedlot near Pincher Creek, Alta.
The chemicals were hauled away on a yellow flat deck utility trailer, which was found later without the herbicides.
Three other thefts were reported from Beiseker, Three Hills and Gleichen. The thieves have stolen Roundup, Achieve, Refine, Venture, Liberty Ally, Transorb and 2,4-D.
Most in Alberta
Thefts across Western Canada have been sporadic this year, said Jackie Ryrie of the Canadian Association of Agri Retailers in Winnipeg. However, Alberta seems to be the hot spot.
Last year there were more thefts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
“Nobody really knows where it is going. There isn’t even gossip about what is going on,” she said.
Chemicals are concentrated, so small amounts are valuable and easy to take.
“You can pack a lot of chemical in a small space like a half-ton,” Ryrie said.
