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The threat that our own equipment could be used against us as a weapon of mass destruction has caused the law enforcement agencies to seek out better protection for the agricultural community.
Not only to address the concerns of Agro-Terrorism, but also the criminal enterprises that continually plague their operations resulting in great losses, and higher prices for the consumer.
As the war on terrorism expands and the terrorist becomes more vigilant in their endeavors, we must increase our awareness at home.
As we have been shown in recent times now is not the time to ignore any part of American society that could be exploited. Homeland protection must become a priority on all levels.
The Agricultural industry is indeed extremely vulnerable to attack. The old way of doing business is no longer adequate. The consequences of an attack on our nation's food or water supplies could prove disastrous.
The implementation of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Agricultural Crime's Unit will provide a better defense in the battle against terrorism on the home front.
Moreover, the escalating cost to the consumer for farm-produced products is directly related to the losses sustained within the industry from Ag related crimes.
The Sheriff of Palm Beach County is committed to combating these matters with a well-trained, well-equipped, specialized unit dedicating itself to the suppression and prosecution of Agro-Terrorism and other Ag related crimes.
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 Palm Beach County Agriculture
- Palm Beach County is the number one Agricultural County in the state of Florida.
- Palm Beach County is the number one provider of winter sweet corn and beans in the United States.
- Palm Beach County encompasses approximately 1950 square miles. Of that, in excess of 493,880 acres or approximately 39% of the land in the county are used for agriculture.
- Sugar Cane 416,633 acres
- Row crops 30,794 acres
- Rice 28,00 acres
- Nursery 5,347 acres
- Citrus 10,923 acres
- Pasture land 18,381 acres
- Sod 11,006 acres
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What is Agricultural Crime and how it affects you?
The Agricultural industry operates on a thin line between success and failure. The escalating cost to the consumer for
farm-produced products
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Tractor vandalism
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is directly related to the losses sustained within the agricultural industry.
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Illegal trash dumping on farm land
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Ag Zone Security
Due to increased concerns about terrorism and sabotage, national security measures are being extended to include agricultural zones.
All ag businesses and farms should have some measure of site security in place to minimize terrorist or crime activities, as well as to protect assets.
This is especially true for operations that store and handle hazardous chemicals or fertilizers.
Basic security measures should include fences, walls, locked doors and alarm systems. In addition, security lighting (good lighting around buildings, storage tanks and storage areas) can make it very difficult for someone to trespass undetected.
Intrusion detection systems, such as video surveillance and motion detectors, provide an even higher level of security
The ability to prevent a crime from occurring is more important to the Agricultural Crime's Unit than simply reacting to an event
that has already occurred. Crime prevention is the main function of the unit.
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