LA MOTTE, Iowa. – Iowa farmer Matt Schuster always thought that farm theft happened elsewhere, not on his farm. But six years ago, Schuster woke up one morning to discover that a part of his soybean acreage was barren from his farm in La Motte. Fourteen acres were plucked and tucked in the pocket of a fellow farmer. The guess is that thieves struck overnight, using a pickup truck, a couple of small grain wagons, a John Deere combine and a few hours under the cover of darkness.

Schuster was skinned for $18,000 and faced an insurance company unwilling to pony up for his loss.

Call them crop rustlers if you will. The age of modern agriculture technology has changed the criminal playbook, but the game plan remains constant, evidenced by billions of dollars in losses to the ag industry each year.

If you think farm theft is the most common problem insurance companies hear about from the rural sector, guess again. Farm theft ranks No. 7 on that list. Nationwide, the country’s leading insurer of farms and ranches, recently released its list of the top insurance claims on farms and ranches in 2019. The company says there were 20,000 claims that year and fire ranks No. 1.

Nationwide representatives suggest making sure working fire extinguishers are present and having a licensed electrician inspect the premises. They add that flammables should be stored property and located away from structures.

Claims for weather come in at No. 2. Wind, hail and lightning damage are common reports from those in the ag community. The advice from those at American Family Insurance is to use quality building materials for any construction to help prevent any wind damage. Storing equipment and vehicles under cover can prevent hail damage, and lightning surge protectors are a must, even on the farm.

Claims tied to vehicle equipment accidents come in at No. 3. A handbook issued by Nationwide Insurance states that these tend to be severe losses. Their suggestion is to implement driver training and share rural road safety information with all workers at the farm and avoid moving machinery after dark when possible. Slick roads, they say, are a leading cause of farm motor vehicle accidents on rural roads.

At No. 4 is damage caused by animals. Livestock operations often experience costly damages resulting from animals escaping and damaging property or being struck by vehicles. “Farmers should routinely check fencing to ensure there is no damage, especially after storms or high winds,” the pamphlet reads.

Building collapse-related claims rank No. 5 on the list. Most occur as a result from snow and ice buildup on structures, though they also occur with grain bins and other farm structures.

On-premise injuries are No. 6 on the list. American Family Life representatives say on-site injuries are frequent claims as well, and they say training is the key. Those representatives say training should be comprehensive and that adequate safeguards, like machine guarding, spotters and up-to-date equipment maintenance, are in place.

“Farmers should communicate clearly with workers and have an emergency action plan that’s ready to be put in use in the event it’s needed,” said Mike Huffman, of American Family Life near Dayton, Ohio. “We see many reports from injuries involving agritourism which brings people to the farm. Trip hazards are so prevalent.”

Theft comes in at No. 7. Nationwide representatives constantly urge their clients to use locks, gates, security lighting and camera systems to scare away potential thieves. They also suggest keeping equipment out of view and removing the keys to any vehicle.

From 2016-2019, Nationwide Insurance received 187 claims in the Midwest for farm-related theft or vandalism. “The most common items stolen were listed as personal items,” said Chris Stollar, public relations consultant for Nationwide. “Personal items cover a range of property categories.”

There were 58 claims for electronics, cash, jewelry and guns. There were 49 claims for tools, 26 claims for mobile equipment, 10 claims for copper pipe or wire and seven claims for livestock.

The last item on Nationwide’s list is food safety. More and more farm operations are becoming intimately involved in food production as a way to supplement income or create a direct relationship with the public. Sanitation and the prevention of contamination are vital.