AT PRESENT INSUFFICIENT ATTENTION IS BEING PAID TO AGRICULTURAL CRIMES. DURING THE PAST DECADE SERIOUS RURAL CRIME HAS INCREASED 43 PERCENT OVER THE URBAN RATE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT ORGANIZED CRIME HAS MOVED INTO RURAL AREAS. THE LOSSES ARE HEAVY; E.G., THEFTS OF PROPERTY IN THE RURAL AREAS OF FLORIDA AMOUNT TO $21 MILLION AND IN CALIFORNIA TO $30 MILLION PER YEAR. SOME PREVENTIVE MEASURES HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN. AIDED BY LEAA FUNDS, POLICE AGENCIES IN MANY STATES (ARIZONA, OHIO, MONTANA) HAVE STRENGTHENED THEIR PATROL OF RURAL AREAS AND ENTERED INTO COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS TO COMBAT PARTICULAR TYPES OF AGRI-CRIME. FARMERS SHOULD TAKE MEASURES SUCH AS PERMANENT MARKING OF THE FARM EQUIPMENT AND LIVESTOCK, AVOIDANCE OF PREDICTABLE ABSENCES, AND IMMEDIATE REPORTING TO THE POLICE OF MISSING EQUIPMENT OR STOCK. AGRICULTURAL CRIME, ITS INVESTIGATION AND ITS PREVENTION, SHOULD BE MADE A REGULAR TOPIC IN THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM OF POLICE ACADEMIES AND IN POLICE SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS. REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE AGRICULTURAL CRIME INFORMATION SOURCES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AND DISSEMINATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. STUDIES SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXTENT AND TYPES OF AGRI-CRIME AND ABOUT EXISTING AND POTENTIAL CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.