Already this year, it seems like we’ve heard it all: cattle theft, poultry heists, and even “tree rustling.” Now, Louisiana law enforcement is asking for help locating potential thieves of over $16,000 worth of herbicides from a Colfax farm.
The chemicals were removed from storage tanks off Highway 158. The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Department said, “$16,000 is a lot of money to lose in literally a few minutes.”
According to reports, farm workers found that someone had tampered with the valves of two containers holding the pesticides glufosinate and glyphosate. Officials believe that while some of the pesticides were spilled on the ground, the remaining missing pesticides were stolen.
The resulting impact of the theft includes the time and labor required to remove the spills. The department’s Pesticide and Environmental Programs Division is helping clean the spill. No major environmental impact is expected.
“The LDAF’s Livestock Brand Commission is committed to holding perpetrators responsible for this kind of senseless vandalism,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M. told kalb5. “Not only can their actions create hazards for the environment, but they also contribute to the loss of money, time, and energy for the affected landowner.”
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture, through the Agriculture Crimestoppers Program, is offering a reward (amount not published) for information resulting in the arrest and prosecution of the individuals involved. The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association offer the reward.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the LDAF Livestock Brand Commission at 1-800-558-9741 or the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-627-3261. Anonymous reporting can also be done through the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office website.
»Related: Kentucky police investigate farm’s stolen walnut trees valued at $30K
