“In ag and agri-food, most businesses are small and medium-sized. We are talking about a sector where the impact of an attack could be getting out of the business completely.” – Ali Dehghantanha, Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity and Threat Intelligence.

Farm business cybersecurity an ongoing concern

Collaboration, standardization and investment needed to shore up agri-food cybersecurity infrastructure

Cybersecurity is a best practice in farm business risk management, but requires collaborative support to be successful and accessible. “(Our food system) is a critical infrastructure at the intersection of every other critical infrastructure. When things go a little bit wobbly in the agri-food sector, we’re all affected,” says Janos Botschner, who leads the Cybersecurity […] Read more

Vince in his corn field where the July incident took place. Crop damage from the fire, and from water truck traffic, is visible.

Series of field fires suggest possible arson

Merlin-area farmer Blake Vince has experienced three fires in the same area since April

The first fire of 2023 happened in mid-April. The second and third occurred over the Victoria Day and Canada Day long weekends. Merlin-area grain farmer Blake Vince first thought it was happenstance, then coincidence. Now he wonders if a bad actor has been putting flame to his residue-heavy fields. If his concerns are true, he […] Read more

“We want to create measures that make it difficult for thieves.” – Kevin Martin, South Bruce OPP Constable.

Farm theft still a threat in rural areas

Basic precautions the best safeguard against theft

Pretty much everyone living in rural Ontario has a story of someone they know who’s been hit with a farm theft in the past few years. It might be the pickup truck stolen from the edge of a field while someone was planting, visits to sheds at night picked up by motion-sensor cameras, or a […] Read more

Many rural crimes are crimes of opportunity, and keeping equipment and storage sheds locked can help prevent theft.

How to reduce the risk of farm theft

Top tips to deter thieves and protect your property

Farmers reported an increase in theft across rural Ontario this spring. Now, many are keeping a closer eye on their property and are looking for new ways to keep their assets secure. Although more thefts seem to be occurring during the day and while people are on site, Scott Smith, a registered insurance broker and […] Read more


Padlocked metal gate

Farmers report spring surge in rural crime

High value GPS receivers and displays are among targets in farm theft

A rising number of Ontario farmers have fallen victim to theft this season. Multiple incidents occurred across southern Ontario in May and June, many of which involved theft of high-value precision agriculture technology products. Two John Deere dealers confirm that global positioning system (GPS) StarFire receivers and displays have been of significant interest. Depending on […] Read more