JASPER, Ind. — Farm security has become one of the top concerns for livestock producers. Several presenters focused on security measures at last week’s Southern Indiana Pork Conference.

Making the farm secure can seem complicated, but some measures are worth a small extra effort. Ed Tice, a Logansport-based buyer for Tyson, said something as simple as checking references before hiring a new employee can prevent using false names and experience on the application.

Animal rights groups have done that on several farms. It happened on Rose Acre Farms, said Spencer Morris, director of Producer Outreach for Indiana Pork.

Operating in seven states, Rose Acre Farms is the largest producer of sell eggs. An applicant answered “no” on his application as to whether he was ever involved with animal rights organizations; however, he used an alias and was with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

He claimed animal cruelty and the matter went to court. Morris, said all the claims he made were rebutted by Rose Acre, as they were within industry-accepted methods.

Morris told the group about another incident in northern Indiana, where someone may have trespassed onto a hog production facility and cut a small square out of one of the curtains – just the right size for a camera lens. There have been no claims on this farm at this point, he said, but experience has shown that usually a video is edited and used long after the fraudulent employee is gone.

Tice urged producers to check identification of everyone who comes on the property. Verify the person is who they say they are.

Nursery finishing units are often remote. Some type of security is necessary to protect livestock from trespassers, he said. “I know a guy who occasionally puts out a deer camera just to monitor movements,” Tice said.

He warned producers to be suspicious of employees who arrive early or stay late, ask to work with animals or ask about security procedures, or offer to work without pay. Be cautious of applicants with an out-of-state driver’s license, Morris said.

In checking a job application, Morris said producers should be suspicious of those whose previous job was “out of character” or if the position for which the person is applying is below previous listed employment.

“Watch for people in places where work shouldn’t take them. Be wary of people who want to see how things are done,” he said.

Include in any application or agreement of employment, Morris added, a line that perjury will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and a statement saying recording devices, including cell phones, can only be used with express permission. Violating this rule, he said, is just cause for termination of employment.

Asking if an applicant has ever seen animal abuse or mistreatment on the application is a good way to determine if the person is experienced with animal care. Morris said anyone who has worked with animals for any amount of time will know that livestock do not always act kindly toward handlers, and will have seen abuse or mistreatment.

Including a nondisclosure statement on an application is a good idea, as is having a written policy to report animal mistreatment by employees.