A reward has been offered for the safe return of a John Deere 6920S tractor, which was stolen from a Co. Carlow farm.

Seamus O’Toole, a farmer from Rathoe, noticed that his 12-year-old John Deere tractor was missing earlier this morning.

O’Toole told Agriland that the tractor, which carries a 05-MH-5303 registration plate, was last seen in his yard at 11.30am on Friday.

The tractor was the only piece of equipment stolen in the suspected raid, he added. O’Toole also said that several of his neighbours are helping to search for the stolen vehicle.

To get in touch with Seamus, call: 086 2492046

A recent survey carried out by the ICSA found that 66% of Irish farming families have been affected by crime relating to their farming enterprise.

Undertaken in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), the survey was devised by WIT lecturers Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh and Louise Walsh.

The study examined crimes that occurred solely on farms or relating to farming activities.

The results of the survey came as no surprise to Seamus Sherlock, the ICSA Rural Development Chairman, as they were “in-keeping with the feedback he has been getting from farmers all around the country”.

The ordinary decent people of rural Ireland are outraged that criminals seem to be acting with impunity.

“Even where insurance is in place, premiums are always at risk of rising significantly as a result of this type of crime,” he said.

“Worse still is that farmers are expected to fund expensive deterrents, such as electric gates and security cameras,” he said.