Pubdate: Mon, 24 Jun 2002
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: The Hamilton Spectator 2002
Contact:  http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Jocelyn Bell

FARMERS LIVING IN FEAR

A rash of vicious and unusual crimes against farmers living at the border 
of Hamilton and Brant County has frightened a community and launched an OPP 
investigation. Acting Detective-Sergeant Chris Gilpin, with the Brant 
County OPP, said she's looking into three incidents to see if they are 
linked but did not give many details.

One dairy farmer had his milk supply ruined in its holding tanks.

Another received threatening letters.

A third farmer's barn was destroyed by arsonists, the detective said.

"I don't know if they're connected. I have no evidence to say that they 
are," Gilpin said.

While the OPP listed only three events under investigation, community 
members are aware of many other malicious crimes, all of which occurred 
within the last nine months and within an eight-kilometre radius.

There's fear that the crimes may be related to marijuana growers, who sneak 
on to farmers' fields, plant their crops and then retaliate if the crops 
are cut down before they can be harvested.

Community members say two barns have been burned down by arsonists in a 
farming community between Cambridge and Brantford called Branchton.

The first barn burned in October, destroying the dairy cattle inside.

The second, which is less than a kilometre away, burned May 30.

The farmer who owned the barn burned in October also found staples in his 
cattle feed, which ripped the animals' insides.

He was the victim of several threatening letters, which said -- You plowed 
down my marijuana.

If you plow again, you'll burn again.

Growers of the illegal drug sometimes sneak into corn fields and plant a 
crop of marijuana on someone else's land. It goes undetected, even by the 
landowner, because corn stalks grow up to three metres high.

The farmer, who is concerned for his safety and didn't want his name used, 
confirmed he has found marijuana in his fields.

In the same community, at least two dairy farmers have had milk in holding 
tanks tainted, possibly by chlorine or penicillin. The problem was 
discovered when the milk was tested before being sold.

One farmer, who was also afraid to have his name printed, would only say 
his milk had been tampered with a few weeks ago.

Only one farm owner would discuss events in any detail. She did not want 
her name or address to appear in The Spectator.

She said was woken in the night by passersby to find the barn fully 
engulfed in flames. Her husband was able to free 20 dairy cattle, but eight 
miscarried later due to shock. The large 100-year-old barn, perched at the 
top of a rolling 32-hectare field, burned to the ground.

All that remains is the stone wall and a heap of charred beams.

The woman said she can't sleep and jumps with every little noise in the 
night, a far cry from the days before the fire when she slept with her 
front door unlocked.

"It's amazing how bad this is and how scary it is," she said. "It messes 
you up."

Even Helen Mulligan, a member of the Brant County council, was reluctant to 
speak out. Like others in the area, she'd heard about the incidents but 
didn't know fact from rumour.

"The neighbours are concerned," Mulligan said.

"All I can say for sure is there's been two barn fires. I haven't talked to 
the parties involved. I know it's in the hands of the police. What more can 
I do?"
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom