KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) voting delegates recently adopted a resolution that would enforce a mandatory minimum sentence for the felony theft of livestock in Iowa and other Midwest states, which also includes stealing corn, soybeans and other commodities.

“The rise in cattle numbers, the rise in prices, you could definitely see a rise in cattle thefts,” Corey Schultz, a region executive officer for the Livestock Marketing Assoc., told The Associated Press. He works with livestock auctions in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

Earlier last month, IFBF members met in West Des Moines at the 2014 IFBF Summer Policy Conference to “develop policy direction on issues important to farmers and all Iowans,” said IFBF President Craig Hill.

As cattle prices reached record highs, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska and North and South Dakota have already seen an increase of cattle thefts, which experts said could hit Iowa because the Hawkeye State is expected to raise more cattle due to low corn prices and Texas’ ongoing drought. 

Last summer, Anamosa, Iowa, farmer Myron Ehresman had 18 cattle stolen from his farm. He was able to catch the thief – who stole about $30,000 in cattle – with security cameras. The perpetrator was only fined $1,000 and served no jail time.

“If you don’t fear God or aren’t concerned about your good name, there’s not much to deter” thieves, Ehresman told the Des Moines (Iowa) Register.

As in prosecuting all property theft cases, it’s really a matter of local courts and county attorneys working together, said Dal Grooms, Iowa Cattlemen’s Assoc. (ICA) director of communications. 

“Any time we get a call about thefts, we stress that producers talk with their county sheriffs immediately,” she said, “and both the sheriffs and the ICA, along with auction barns, work together to get the word to the Livestock Marketing Assoc., which disseminates the information to auction barns regionally.”

Ranked as the nation’s top corn-producing state, with nearly 2.2 billion bushels last year, Iowa is also ranked sixth nationally for cattle, with nearly 3.9 million head last year, according to the USDA.

Justine Stevenson, ICA director of government relations and public policy, who works directly with 10,000 members to establish policy for the organization, said livestock theft is a nationwide issue. 

“At this time, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Assoc. does not have any specific policy relevant to cattle theft,” she said. “With our annual meeting approaching in December, however, I am certain our members will bring the topic to our policy committee meetings.”

To address members who experience cattle theft, Stevenson said the ICA offers a cattle theft reward program. 

Under the program, a cash reward up to $5,000 will be paid for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of any person involved in the theft, mutilation or malicious killing of cattle owned by an ICA member. 

“In the last 12 months, one cattle theft incident was reported to our office,” she said. “Given this issue impacts producers on a local level, we ask for our members, along with the respective law enforcement agency, to collaborate with the association to ultimately mitigate the occurrence of cattle thefts in Iowa.”

Stevenson added that a cash reward up to $5,000 may also be paid for information resulting in the recovery of cattle stolen from a member of the ICA, provided the following conditions are met and complied with:

•Notify your sheriff at once

•Notify the ICA office

•Upon verification of cattle theft, mutilation or malicious killing, the ICA will communicate with local authorities to compile information for distribution among state media.

The ICA will promptly send “theft alert” notices to all auction markets in Iowa. 

In Iowa, cattle theft – stealing more than $10,000 in property – carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a $10,000 fine. The minimum charge – stealing less than $200 in property – is a misdemeanor, with up to 30 days in jail and a $625 fine.

Ron Birkenholz, communications director for the Iowa Pork Producers Assoc. in Clive, said there have been a few isolated pig theft incidents in Iowa in recent years, “but it hasn’t been a widespread problem, fortunately, and we’re not aware of any incidents this year.” 

“When we do hear of an incident of theft, we alert our members and advise them to increase their vigilance and report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities,” he said. 

“A couple of years ago when some incidents were occurring around Iowa,” he added, “we suggested that hog farmers may want to consider video surveillance or other security systems as a theft deterrent.”