A Farm Progress report warns farmers to keep an eye on their precision ag equipment like auto-guidance monitors and antennas. An ag store in Illinois was planning to send some equipment to a field demonstration, but when the individual showed up to take the tractor, the auto guidance monitor and antenna was missing. The staff said that they calibrated the tractor and left the equipment in the tractor the day before. Inside the tractor they found cut wires and non of the technology they needed. All together, there were eight pieces of machinery that had stolen monitors and antennas.
Also, in Atlanta there were four tractors and five combines that had the same equipment stolen. No one involved is 100% positive as to why the specific parts were taken, but they have a guess. They claim it is either a quick way to make some cash, or the computer chip shortage could be the reason behind the thefts. The chips aren’t able to be tracked, but at least the monitors and antennas can be disabled making them useless to anyone else. Some farmers said they like to unplug their precision equipment at night, put it somewhere safe, and bring it back in the morning.
