Cyber security – the new frontier in farm risk management

By Ethan Wallace, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

When most people consider what could pose a risk to Ontario farm businesses, they likely think of extreme weather or commodity market fluctuations. But in today’s connected world, one of the fastest-growing risks is one we can’t see until it’s too late: cyber attacks.

Cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated, and the reality is that it’s no longer a question of if you will face a cyber security problem, but when. Although I’m writing specifically from the perspective of the agriculture sector as a dairy farmer and Vice President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, all of us are at risk, regardless of where we are or what we do.

From real-looking emails and spoofed phone numbers to text messages that seem legitimate, scams are harder than ever to spot. And when something goes wrong, the costs can be staggering — not just financially, but also in terms of lost time, stress, and damaged relationships with customers or suppliers.

Farms and agri-businesses are particularly vulnerable to cyber security attacks.

First, most farms are small, independent businesses with limited IT resources. In the last few years, we have come to rely heavily on digital systems, but few of us have the luxury of a full-time IT professional managing updates, patches, and network security. Research shows that 90% of farming systems haven’t had a software update in years, leaving the door wide open for hackers.

Second, farms are increasingly connected. From automated feeding systems and environmental controls in greenhouses to mobile apps and sensors in the field, our businesses depend on a web of interconnected devices. That means a weak point anywhere in the system — an outdated password, a shared login, or an unprotected sensor — can compromise the entire farm.