| Genre: | Documentary |
| Narrated: | Sarah Treleaven |
| Country: | Canada |
| Num Seasons: | 3 |
| Num Episodes: | 18 |
| Executive Producer: | Geoff Morrison |
| Company: | Big Cedar Films |
| Network: | CBC |
Farm Crime is a Canadian true crime documentary series which premiered on CBC's online streaming service, CBC Gem, 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]
Showrunner Geoff Morrison described the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist as the inspiration for the show in a 2023 interview.[4]
The series documents the stories of people who have been victims of agricultural crime. Each 10-25 minute episode examines a different incident, usually a theft, and how it affects the victims both emotionally and financially.[5] 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.[6] The second season looks at crop, lobster, and horse theft, elver poaching, and invasive species that threaten agriculture.[7] The last season of Farm Crime covers timber poaching, agricultural fraud and scams, industry sabotage, and a case that involves the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.[8]
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.[9] It also received positive reviews from Canadian entertainment websites, and was cited for its unique spin on the true crime genre.[10]
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.[11] The first season was also nominated for Best Web Non-Fiction Series at the Banff World Media Festival in the same year.[12] 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.[13]
The second season of Farm Crime won the Best Web Program or Series, Non-Fiction award in the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards, and director and writer Kathleen Jayme was nominated for the Best Writing, Web Program or Series award for Invasion of the Murder Hornets.[14] [15] In the 2022 T.O. Webfest, it was nominated for best documentary series, best editing and best cinematography, and won the award for best original score.[16] [17]
The third season of Farm Crime was nominated for the Best Web Program or Series, Non-Fiction award in the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards, and director and writer Maya Annik Bedward was nominated for the Best Direction, Web Program or Series award for Pigeon Ponzi.[18] In the 2024 T.O. Webfest, season three was nominated for best English Canadian series and won the genre award for best documentary series.[19]