security Archives

What are you doing with my information?

Agronomy and the Law: Are you prepared to answer that question from a farming client?

By Kalen Oram, Rochelle Blocka April 26, 2025

With the increasing development and usage of precision agriculture and technological advances in the agriculture industry, farmers are experiencing huge increases in productivity, efficiency and profitability. These innovations include the industry’s development of software applications to manage farm data, sensors on implements, drones, precision machinery and GPS technology, to name a few. With this rise […] Read more

Equipment, Machinery

We evaluate the Defend cellular camera system

Grainews Practical Test: We test-drive a new security camera and app

By Scott Garvey April 22, 2025

Iowa-based Tactacam sent us a Defend cellular-based remote security monitoring system to try out for ourselves, so we put it to the test. Here’s how that went and what we thought of it.

Columns, Editor's column

Editor’s Rant: Get lost, grandkid

If we don’t talk openly about scams we’re condemned to have them repeated on us

By Dave Bedard March 11, 2025

It’s not like I marked the exact date or time on the calendar, but otherwise I still clearly recall the day I officially got old. It wasn’t while having to catch my breath after taking the stairs. It wasn’t from the first time my feet got sore standing in line, being asked if I wanted […] Read more

Many farmers have set up multiple barriers against grain theft and are also advised to reduce the number of entry points to their grain storage area.

Features, News

More heft against theft

What’s new in enforcement and community initiatives? And what are the best ways to ensure you’re not a victim?

By Treena Hein December 5, 2024

Prairie provincial leaders have gotten the message. They’ve listened to farmers and their neighbours in rural areas and are putting more resources and new strategies in place to reduce theft and other crimes. At the same time, farmers have taken the initiative to prevent theft through increased vigilance and investments in cameras, lighting and more. […] Read more

Mailed cheques are now being intercepted by fraudsters and duplicated but made out to new payees.

Equipment, Features

Fraudsters bringing bigger phish to farms

An ATB rep suggests the time has come for you to stop writing physical cheques

By Doug Ferguson March 1, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — The time has come for you to step up your cybersecurity against rising levels of financial fraud that have cost some producers tens of thousands of dollars. “It’s unbelievable the amount of cases that have come through our organization in the last year and a half,” says Jonathan Neutens, head of agriculture […] Read more

Les and Loree Wedderburn farm near Rivers, Man. Last December, thieves stole 1,600 bushels of canola worth about $40,000 from a grain bin. The
Wedderburns were shocked by the theft because they thought they lived in a community where something like this would never happen. Since the
theft, the Wedderburns have taken measures to deter and prevent an incident like this happening again.

News, Practical Tips

Tips to prevent grain theft on your farm

Grain theft can happen to you. These strategies will make it harder for thieves to steal from you

By Treena Hein September 30, 2022

In December 2021, Les Wedderburn and his wife, Loree, who farm at Rivers, Man., were victims of grain theft. They are among many victims of this type of theft stretching back decades across the Prairies. In total, they lost about 1,600 bushels of canola — the harvest from 40 acres — from their farm, which […] Read more

Being diligent about cybersecurity is important, even on the farm.

Equipment, Machinery

Cybercriminals target equipment manufacturers

John Deere’s Cyber Security Defense Center is one example of how industry is fighting back

By Scott Garvey August 10, 2022

In May, major American ag equipment manufacturer AGCO revealed it had been targeted by a ransomware attack on its computer systems. In a statement on May 16, the company said its efforts to restore systems and business operations were continuing successfully after the attack, which was discovered on May 5, and all factories and parts […] Read more

Features, News

Farm thefts on the rise

Community action is the first line of defence

By John Dietz July 26, 2022

Crime isn’t just a big city problem. Farms can be vulnerable to thieves, particularly if they don’t have any security features to help ward off intruders. Country Guard Security, based in Devon, Alta., specializes in protecting farms and acreages against property crimes and has clients across Alberta. The owner, Guy Spiro, who set up the […] Read more

Screenshot from an Alberta Agriculture video profiling Innisfail-based pulse and grain handler W.A. Grain and Pulse Solutions. (Alberta Agriculture and Forestry via YouTube)

Crops, Pulses

W.A. Grain’s farmer suppliers to get 80 cents on dollar

CGC program to provide $5.6 million of $7.1 million owed

By Allan Dawson, GFM Network News March 10, 2022

Farmers owed $7.1 million by W.A. Grain and Pulse Solutions, which had facilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, will get $5.6 million, or about 80 per cent of the money owed to them, via the Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC) Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program. “While we regret producers didn’t get 100 per cent (of what they […] Read more

Crops, Pulses

Farmers retrieve beans from Global Grain

That will cut the amount of security money needed to cover what farmers are owed

By Allan Dawson, GFM Network News November 24, 2020

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is still tallying how much farmers are owed by Global Grain Canada Ltd. at Plum Coulee, Man. for dry beans they delivered to the firm but weren’t paid for. However, the potential for farmers not getting what they are owed has been reduced, CGC spokesman Remi Gosselin said in an […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News