Urgency in cybersecurity on the farm

Tim Kenyon
Apr 2, 2026
Apr 2, 2026

farmer using gps in tractor cab — Big changes are coming to GPS.
IFT file photo

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Farm systems, from sensors and controls, to robotics, drones and related precision ag tools, could be instantly down in a cyber crisis.

kAmrJ36CD64FC:EJ 65F42E@CD 6>A92D:K6 E96 FC86?4J @7 C68F=2C DJDE6> 4964<D]k^Am

kAm“%96 :562 :D E@ 86E A6@A=6 E9:?<:?8 23@FE E96 H92E :7D 2?5 9@H E96J >:89E >2?286 :E[” D2:5 |256=:?6 $49F=EK[ x@H2 $E2E6 tIE6?D:@? 72C> >2?286>6?E DA64:2=:DE] “~FC 72C> >2?286>6?E E62> 562=D H:E9 C:D< 2 =@E — 4J36CD64FC:EJ 2?5 5:8:E2= DJDE6>D 2C6 ;FDE 2?@E96C 7@C> @7 :E] !6@A=6 ?665 E@ 36 2H2C6 E@ 36 36EE6C AC6A2C65 E@ C65F46 A@E6?E:2= D:8?:7:42?E =@DD6D]”k^Am

kAmu:?2?4:2=[ 9F>2? C6D@FC46D[ =682=[ >2C<6E:?8 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? 2C6 7:G6 86?6C2= 72C> C:D<D E@ 36 2H2C6 @7] rJ36CD64FC:EJ 27764ED 2== 2DA64ED @7 C:D< >2?286>6?E] k^Am

kAmp 8@@5 DE2CE:?8 A@:?E >2J D@F?5 @=5\72D9:@?65[ J6E :E C6>2:?D BF:E6 AC24E:42=i rC62E6 2? 6>6C86?4J HC:EE6? =:DE @7 4@?E24ED 2?5 A9@?6 ?F>36CD] xE’D BF:E6 A@DD:3=6 A9@?6 2?5 @E96C 4@>AFE6C 4@?E24E =:DE:?8D H@?’E 36 2446DD:3=6 :? 2? 6>6C86?4J[ $49F=EK D2:5]k^Am

kAm“(:E9 4J36C E9C62ED[ J@F ?665 E@ <?@H H92E’D =@@>:?8[ 36H2C6 @7 E9C62ED 2?5 9@H E96J :>A24E J@FC 72C>:?8 DJDE6>D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmu2C>6CD 2C6 C2A:5=J >@G:?8 :?E@ 9:896C E649[ 96?46 E96 :?4C62D65 AC:@C:EJ 8:G6? E@ 4J36CD64FC:EJ[ D96 D2:5]k^Am

People are also reading…

First confirmed case of pest in soybeans
Don’t confuse popularity with expertise when deciding who speaks for American ranchers
As populations shrink, some communities learn to thrive
Corn market taking notice of yield projections
Farm Progress Show displays range in size
With dry conditions, combine fires a strong possibility in 2026
Beef-production cycle slow
Heading toward harvest, South Central Nebraska crops looking good
Water is life for Nebraska tribe’s ranch
When company was coming: What the farm used to teach us about talking to people
Power-line project garners opposition
Answer Plot Innovation Farm discusses spray drone advancements
The life of a true cowboy
Way We Live: Mensen farm raises dairy cows and colorful birds
Farmers recall Sept. 11 as nation marks 25 years

kAm%649?@=@8J C2?86D 7C@> AC64:D:@? A=2?E:?8 E@ >2?28:?8 9@8 3F:=5:?8 E6>A6C2EFC6D]k^Am

kAm!@E6?E:2= 4J36C4C:>6D 42? 27764E =:G6DE@4< 2?5 4C@A AC@5F4E:@?[ 2D H6== 2D 7:?2?4:2= DJDE6>D]k^Am

kAm“pD:56 7C@> 4J36C2EE24<D[ H6 92G6 E@ H@CCJ 23@FE H62E96C 5:D2DE6CD[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm!@H6C @FE286D 2?5 DJDE6> 52>286 42? :?DE2?E=J D9FE 5@H? 5:8:E2= 72C>:?8 :?7C2DECF4EFC6]k^Am

kAm“u@C E96 A2DE 76H >@?E9D[ @FC E62> 92D 366? 7@4FD:?8 @? 5:D2DE6C A=2??:?8 7@C D>2CE 72C>:?8 DJDE6>D 2?5 7@C @G6C2== 6>6C86?4J A=2??:?8 :? 28C:4F=EFC6[” $49F=EK D2:5] “(6’C6 E2=<:?8 E@ 72C> 2F5:6?46D 2?5 2D<:?8[ ‘(92E H@F=5 J@F 5@ :7 J@FC 72C> 3FD:?6DD 72465 2 DF556? :?E6C?6E 5:DCFAE:@? @C E649?@=@8J 72:=FC6n’”k^Am

kAm|62?H9:=6[ D96 D2:5[ “(6’C6 92G:?8 7F? H:E9 2F5:6?46D 2?5 56G6=@A:?8 D<:==D E92E H:== 2AA=J E@ 2?J 6>6C86?4J]”k^Am

kAm“(6 H2=< A2CE:4:A2?ED E9C@F89 2 92?5D\@? rJ36CD64FC:EJ x?4:56?E |2?286>6?E tI6C4:D6 E2:=@C65 7@C E96 28C:4F=EFC2= 4@>>F?:EJ] (6 92G6 2 G:56@ E92E F?7@=5D 2 D46?2C:@ D:>F=2E:?8 2 C62=\H@C=5 4C:D:D =:<6 2 4J36C2EE24<[ H62E96C\C6=2E65 5:D2DE6C @C 4@>>F?:42E:@?D @FE286] %96? H6 8F:56 72C>6CD E9C@F89 E96 4@?46AED @7 DEC2E68:4 5@:?8] %9:D :D 2 AC@46DD A6@A=6 42? FD6 E@ E9:?< E9C@F89 2 E62>\32D65 C6DA@?D6] %96 DEC2E68:4 5@:?8 AC@46DD 96=AD A6@A=6 >2<6 36EE6C 564:D:@?D @? 9@H E@ 562= H:E9 E96 6>6C86?4J E92E 92D @44FCC65]”k^Am

kAmx@H2 $E2E6 4@?E:?F6D E@ =:?6 FA 24E:G:E:6D 2?5 C6D@FC46D C682C5:?8 4J36CD64FC:EJ 2?5 5:8:E2= 72C>:?8 DJDE6>D 2?5 9@A6D E96 :?7@C>2E:@? DAC625D]k^Am

kAm“(6’G6 65F42E65 72C>6CD H:E9 7@C6E9@F89ED[ E96J 96=A ?6:893@CD[ 2?5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ :? EFC? 96=AD E96 72C>6CD[” $49F=EK D2:5] “xE 2== 4@>6D 2C@F?5]”k^Am