Farm Crime | |
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Genre | Documentary |
Directed by |
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Narrated by | Sarah Treleaven |
Country of origin | Canada |
Original languages |
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No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Production | |
Executive producer | Geoff Morrison |
Producers |
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Production locations | |
Production company | Big Cedar Films |
Original release | |
Network | CBC |
Release | August 17, 2018 |
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]
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]
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]
No. in season | Title | Directed by | Original air date | |
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1 | "Cattle Cops" | Geoff Morrison | August 17, 2018 | |
2 | "Hive Heist" | Ryan J. Noth | August 17, 2018 | |
3 | "George of Green Gables" | Christina Carvalho | August 17, 2018 | |
A PEI aquaculturist is robbed of oysters while dealing with a family tragedy.[9] | ||||
4 | "Pigeon Pincher" | Geoff Morrison | August 17, 2018 | |
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 Lean | August 17, 2018 | |
Free-range farmers in Nova Scotia are victim to a thief who butchered animals on their property.[10] | ||||
6 | "#BlueberryBandit" | Geoff Morrison | August 17, 2018 | |
$100,000 worth of blueberries are stolen from a transport yard in Hamilton, Ontario.[11] |
No. in season | Title | Directed by | Original air date | |
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1 | "Invasion of the Murder Hornets" | Kathleen Jayme | April 1, 2021 | |
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 | |
3 | "Missing Mare" | Alexandra Lazarowich | April 1, 2021 | |
4 | "Canola Caper" | Maya Annik Bedward | April 1, 2021 | |
5 | "The Lobster Looting at Long Cove" | Geoff Morrison | April 1, 2021 | |
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 McNally | April 1, 2021 | |
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] |
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]
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]