A subsidy is now available for the fitting of TRACKER equipment to tractors.

Farmers in farm theft hotspots across Northern Ireland will have access to support funding to fit TRACKER security devices which the police can use to locate and recover stolen machinery or equipment.

TRACKER units, under a three year monitoring contract, will be available for a total up front cost of £360 per unit to the customer (exclusive of VAT). The normal price for the units varies depending on supplier but can cost up to £550 plus vat. The subsidy package is available until 30 September 2014 (or until all subsidised TRACKER units have been allocated).

In December 2013, Justice Minister David Ford and Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill first announced a funding package to encourage farmers to fit security devices to their machinery. On July 26, 2014, the Rural Crime Partnership announced the regional roll out of a subsidy for the fitting of TRACKER equipment to tractors.

Units will be allocated on the basis of one unit per customer. Those farmers who previously availed of the subsidy in E and F policing districts can request another unit in this round.

The Rural Crime Unit initiative is supported by the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, NFU Mutual and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

NFU Mutual is providing a dedicated telephone number, 028 9081 8688, for farmers to register their interest and reserve the subsidised rates for a TRACKER unit.

NFU Mutual spokesperson James Mc Aleenan said: “As Northern Ireland's leading rural insurer, we are all too well aware that crime is a serious problem for farmers and I would therefore encourage them to take advantage of this subsidy to help them protect their property by calling telephone number 028 9081 8688.” The telephone lines will be open 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday.