Farm Crime

Last updated
Farm Crime
GenreDocumentary
Directed by
Narrated bySarah Treleaven
Country of origin Canada
Original languages
  • English (12 episodes)
  • French (1 episode)
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producerGeoff Morrison
Producers
  • Geoff Morrison
  • Christina Carvalho
Production locations
Production companyBig Cedar Films
Original release
Network CBC
ReleaseAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)

Farm Crime is a Canadian true crime documentary series which premiered on CBC's online streaming service, CBC Gem (formerly the CBC Player), in August 2018. [1] Created by Geoff Morrison and produced by Toronto-based production company Big Cedar Films, the series investigates unconventional crimes in the world of farming and agriculture. [2]

Contents

The series was one of the first to be commissioned exclusively for the CBC Gem streaming platform, and was reported by CBC to have been the most-streamed original unscripted series over a seven-day period and a twelve-week period when its first season premiered. In December 2020, it was announced that Warner Bros. Unscripted Television optioned the format rights to the show, and that an American version of the show is in development. [3]

Episodes

Series overview

The series documents the stories of people who have been victims of agricultural crime. Each 10-15 minute episode examines a different incident, usually a theft, and how it affects the victims both emotionally and financially. [4] The series also explores the many diverse aspects of the agricultural industry in Canada, with each episode taking place in different provinces across Canada. The first season of the series tackles crimes such as cattle rustling, oyster poaching, livestock theft, and cargo theft. [5] The second season looks at crop, lobster, and horse theft, elver poaching, and invasive species that threaten agriculture. [6]

Season 1 (2018)

No. in
season		TitleDirected byOriginal air date
1"Cattle Cops"Geoff MorrisonAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)
RCMP livestock investigators round up a cattle rustler who stole cattle from his employer. [7]
2"Hive Heist"Ryan J. NothAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)
An investigation into the biggest bee theft in Canadian history, where five million bees are stolen from a family-run apiary in Quebec. [8]
3"George of Green Gables"Christina CarvalhoAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)
A PEI aquaculturist is robbed of oysters while dealing with a family tragedy. [9]
4"Pigeon Pincher"Geoff MorrisonAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)
After 300 fancy pigeons are stolen from a pigeon fancier in Abbotsford, BC, the theft is suspected to be connected to a rash of livestock thefts in the Fraser Valley. [5]
5"Black Market Butcher"Victoria LeanAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)
Free-range farmers in Nova Scotia are victim to a thief who butchered animals on their property. [10]
6"#BlueberryBandit"Geoff MorrisonAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)
$100,000 worth of blueberries are stolen from a transport yard in Hamilton, Ontario. [11]

Season 2 (2021)

No. in
season		TitleDirected byOriginal air date
1"Invasion of the Murder Hornets" Kathleen Jayme April 1, 2021 (2021-04-01)
Dedicated beekeepers in British Columbia discover the first "murder hornet" nest in North America, and wage war against the honeybee's deadliest natural predator. [12]
2"The Million Dollar Baby Eel Deal" Stephanie Joline April 1, 2021 (2021-04-01)
After hundreds of kilograms of baby eels turn up on the black market, fisheries officers launch a sting operation to break up the trafficking ring. [13]
3"Missing Mare" Alexandra Lazarowich April 1, 2021 (2021-04-01)
Struck by illness, an Ontario woman entrusts the care of her beloved horses to another horse owner, but when she goes to retrieve the animals, they're nowhere to be found. [14]
4"Canola Caper"Maya Annik BedwardApril 1, 2021 (2021-04-01)
A determined mountie and innovative grain scientist team up to investigate a string of suspicious canola sales, and build a case against a notorious suspect. [15]
5"The Lobster Looting at Long Cove"Geoff MorrisonApril 1, 2021 (2021-04-01)
While a Nova Scotia lobster fisherman rings in the New Year, thieves make him the next victim in a growing rash of lobster thefts. [13]
6"My Father's Horses"Conor McNallyApril 1, 2021 (2021-04-01)
When a Nakoda Elder discovers three of his beloved paint horses missing, he turns to his daughter, who has her own unique connection to the animals, for help. [16]

Reception

The show has been praised for looking at the crimes with intelligence and respect. At the end of 2018, Farm Crime was named as one of the “25 most binge-worthy TV shows of 2018” by NOW Magazine. [10] It also received positive reviews from Canadian entertainment websites, and was cited for its unique spin on the true crime genre. [2] [5] [17]

Awards and nominations

The first season of Farm Crime was nominated for the Best Web Program or Series in Non-Fiction under the Digital Media category at the 2019 Canadian Screen Awards. [18] The first season was also nominated for Best Web Non-Fiction Series at the Banff World Media Festival in the same year. [19]

At the T.O. Webfest in 2019, the series was nominated for the IWCC Canadian Spotlight and Best Cinematography awards, and won the Best Canadian Series and Best Documentary Series awards. [20]

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References

  1. ↑ staff, N. O. W. (2018-08-16). "What to watch in theatres and online this weekend: August 17–19". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2018-12-19.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 "True crime in agriculture and farming is the focus of CBC's excellent, unique Farm Crime | TV, eh?". www.tv-eh.com. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  3. ↑ Pinto, Jordan (2020-12-15). "Warner Bros. Unscripted Television options CBC Gem original Farm Crime". Playback. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  4. ↑ "This week in Toronto: The Bentway celebrates its expansion with a block party | The Star". thestar.com. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  5. 1 2 3 Simes, Jeremy (2018-09-06). "Documentary shows farm crime is no joke". The Western Producer. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  6. ↑ Lines, Madeline (2021-04-04). "Farm Crime Is Truly Canadian True Crime". POV Magazine. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  7. ↑ Fernandez, Fernando (November 19, 2018). "FARM CRIME IS HEART HEAVY". FERNTV. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  8. ↑ "The Current Transcript for September 3, 2018". CBC Radio. September 3, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  9. ↑ "CBC doc series chronicles how 'Farm Crime' hits vulnerable family businesses". CBC Radio. September 3, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  10. 1 2 staff, N.O.W. (December 5, 2018). "The 25 most binge-worthy TV shows of 2018". Now Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  11. ↑ "CBC documentary looks into case of $100K worth in stolen blueberries from Hamilton". CBC News. August 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  12. ↑ Dart, Chris (March 31, 2021). "This man was stung seven times by murder hornets while trying to save Vancouver Island's honeybees". CBC. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Farm Crime Season 2 Streaming on CBC Gem April 1". Farms.com. March 19, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  14. ↑ Izzo, Kim (April 14, 2021). "'Farm Crime': From Stolen Livestock to Bees and Blueberries". Horse Canada. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  15. ↑ Langen, Kim (April 1, 2021). "CBC Gem series 'Farm Crime' features an intrepid Killarney cop". The Killarney Guide. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  16. ↑ Griwkowsky, Fish (March 30, 2021). "Local director saddles up with Farm Crime's search for three missing horses". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Now Streaming: 'Farm Crime' – Point of View Magazine". povmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  18. ↑ "Farm Crime". Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. 2019. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  19. ↑ "Rockie Awards International Program Competition". Banff World Media Festival. 2019. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  20. ↑ Malyk, Lauren (2019-07-15). "Terreur 404, Farm Crime among T.O. WebFest winners". Playback. Retrieved 2021-05-12.


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