Fresno County Sheriff’s Department Ag Crimes Task Force Detective Kirby Alstrom looks over a bin of copper wire sold to recycler Bruno’s Iron and Metal in Fresno. Copper wire is a target of thieves who strip it from agricultural irrigation pumps and street lights. Law requires recycling companies to photograph and fingerprint sellers of non-ferrous metals.
Photo/Cecilia Parsons
Fresno County Sheriff’s Department Ag Crimes Task Force Detective Kirby Alstrom says scrap iron has been an increasing target for thieves, but pieces rarely have owner-applied numbers and returning stolen metal to victims is difficult.
Photo/Cecilia Parsons
Ongoing wave of metal theft prompts further legislation
With theft of metals from farms and ranches remaining a chronic problem, farm groups and law enforcement organizations support several bills intended to tighten regulations and make resale of metal more difficult for thieves. Read more...

Detectives talk about preventing large crop thefts
Detectives call it a "fictitious pickup," and it's becoming more of a concern for people in the nut business: An entire truckload of processed nuts is picked up by a trucking company that has been secured through a broker—but the nuts never reach the end buyer. Read more...

Hearing on milk prices highlights lack of agreement
Dairy farmer organizations and processors have not yet reached an agreement on how to update the state's milk pricing formula and, more specifically, on how to establish a whey value that would be satisfactory to both sides. Read more...

Commentary: Farmers, food processors support reform of Prop. 65
California farmers, ranchers and food processors spend millions of dollars on nutrition studies promoting the health benefits of our products. Read more...

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