WAG in Focus: Cyber Security and the Farm

🎯 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:

• High of 88°F today with 50% chance of rain overnight

• 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)

• Free event on July 19 in Amenia for rural firefighters

• 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

• Pesticide drop-off locations across ND

• Not for paints/oils—strictly ag chemicals

• This week: Minot, Tioga, Killdeer, Dickinson, and Beulah

🍄 4:49 – White Mold Alert + Regev Fungicide

• White mold pressure is up—especially in soybeans and dry beans

• 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

• 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

• 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:

• 12:40 – What PCI compliance actually means

• 15:45 – Why manual credit card entries are risky

• 18:10 – Enable transaction notifications (don’t ignore fraud alerts!)

• 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

• Tips to avoid getting scammed when ordering ag parts online

• 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

• Most ISPs aren't security experts

• Farms need cybersecurity-aware support—especially with apps, GPS, and drones

“Even your sprayer could be hacked.”

🚁 36:15 – Protecting Tile Plow Data & Drones

• Back up GPS drain tile maps

• Secure drone networks—don’t rely on public Wi-Fi

• Beware of international cyber threats

“Your drone could be surveilling more than just weeds.”

🌾 37:16 – Crop Acreage Update (2025 ND & MN)

• Soybeans lead ND with 6.6M acres

• Corn acreage hits record high

• Del Monte files bankruptcy—but brand will continue