Higher farm commodity prices have made stored grain more valuable to farmers, and potentially more vulnerable to thieves.
In recent months, Federated Co-op stores have been offering protection in the form of crop confetti. Supplied by MicroDotDNA Technology Canada of Leduc, the tiny strips of paper contain a unique identification number that links the grain to its owner, and a web address where registration information can be found.
MicroDotDNA president Pat Cowan said the confetti pieces are mixed into the grain as it goes into the bin.
“As they go through the auger, they get dispersed through the grain and spread out throughout the bin.”
A handful is placed in grain near the entrance, and the exterior marked with notices that the bin’s contents have been marked.
“That’s usually enough to get them to leave it alone,” said Cowan.
A box of crop confetti costs about $100 and is enough for about 50,000 bushels.
The idea of marking grain with identifying material is not a new one. But Cowan said MicroDotDNA has gone a step further with an international registration database.
“Ours is different than the other types in the fact that it actually has traceability and where to go looking for the information.”
Despite only being available at Co-op outlets for a short period of time, demand for the product has been good, he said.
“We’ve been getting more and more registrations every day.”
Meanwhile, awareness is increasing among farmers and grain buyers — and more importantly, among thieves.
“If they know this is happening out there, it’s a very significant theft deterrent.”
In addition to crop confetti, MicroDotDNA supplies tiny microdots upon which identifying codes are laser-etched. These can be placed on farm equipment and their numbers also checked against the database. That allows law enforcement officers and others to trace lost or stolen goods.
Farmers can even register equipment that hasn’t been microdotted, increasing the likelihood that if it’s stolen and recovered it will be traced back to them.
The crop confetti and microdots are part of a national crime-prevention program called Operation Hands Off, which MicroDotDNA is spearheading. Through it, the company is working with various industries to develop theft deterrence systems suitable for their needs.
One example is the home-building sector, with several construction companies in Red Deer currently using microdots to protect equipment and materials on job sites.
“We actually do projects all over the country, primarily related to commercial theft,” said Cowan.
So far in Central Alberta, crop theft has not been a problem, said Sgt. James Derouin of the Blackfalds RCMP detachment.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com