🎯 Episode Overview:
In this power-packed episode of Weather & Ag in Focus, your hosts dig into the latest ag weather forecast, break down a major grain terminal closure, and sit down with Chris Sherman from Tech Support Farm—a.k.a. the “cybersecurity superhero.” The show weaves timely updates, important safety announcements, and tech-forward ag insights into an episode farmers and ag professionals won’t want to miss.
🔑 Episode Highlights & Timestamps:
🌧️ 0:00 – Rain on the Radar
Forecast:
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High of 88°F today with 50% chance of rain overnight
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Temps dropping to low 60s, 70s expected tomorrow
“A half-inch of rain would make a big difference for a lot of folks.”
🚒 1:34 – Firefighter Safety Training (RFDASH)
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Free event on July 19 in Amenia for rural firefighters
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Learn about ag emergency response, hazard mapping, and first aid
Limited to 25 spots—contact ag@flagfamily.com to sign up.
🧪 3:57 – Project Safe Send Reminder
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Pesticide drop-off locations across ND
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Not for paints/oils—strictly ag chemicals
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This week: Minot, Tioga, Killdeer, Dickinson, and Beulah
🍄 4:49 – White Mold Alert + Regev Fungicide
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White mold pressure is up—especially in soybeans and dry beans
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New hybrid fungicide Regev combines tea tree oil + triazoles
“A curative option that disrupts spore germination and mycelial growth.”
🚢 9:00 – CHS Closes Grain Terminal in Duluth
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CHS ends barge operations; grain flow shifts west (Asian markets)
“It’s the end of an era—fewer raw beans going east, more oil and meal heading west.”
📦 9:54 – Big Auction in Adrian, MN
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Livestock handling equipment, tractors, horse trailers & more
Visit kerrauction.com to browse the listings
🛡️ 12:00 – Interview: Cybersecurity in Ag (Chris Sherman)
Chris dives into farm-level cyber threats, payment app vulnerabilities, and how to protect sensitive data from hackers and foreign actors.
Highlights include:
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12:40 – What PCI compliance actually means
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15:45 – Why manual credit card entries are risky
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18:10 – Enable transaction notifications (don’t ignore fraud alerts!)
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20:36 – Most farms need outsourced IT help
“You wouldn’t leave your wallet at the bar—don’t leave your farm’s data unsecured either.”
💸 29:00 – Fake Part Websites & Scam Detection Tools
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Tips to avoid getting scammed when ordering ag parts online
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Use tools like SiteChecker to verify URLs
“If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is—especially after storms.”
🔐 30:46 – Why Farms Need Real IT + Cyber Support
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Most ISPs aren't security experts
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Farms need cybersecurity-aware support—especially with apps, GPS, and drones
“Even your sprayer could be hacked.”
🚁 36:15 – Protecting Tile Plow Data & Drones
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Back up GPS drain tile maps
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Secure drone networks—don’t rely on public Wi-Fi
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Beware of international cyber threats
“Your drone could be surveilling more than just weeds.”
🌾 37:16 – Crop Acreage Update (2025 ND & MN)
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Soybeans lead ND with 6.6M acres
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Corn acreage hits record high
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Del Monte files bankruptcy—but brand will continue