Join the National Digital Education Extension Team (NDEET) Cybersecurity Team for a Lunch and Learn webinar on October 15, 2026, virtually on Zoom. Register for the Lunch and Learn
Farmers know that preventing pests before they cause damage is essential. The same principle applies to protecting the digital tools farms rely on every day.
The Southern Rural Development Center’s (SRDC) National Digital Education Extension Team (NDEET) Cybersecurity Team developed a farm cybersecurity project to help producers recognize digital threats and protect their operations. The project was funded through the Extension Foundation’s New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program, with support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Extension Foundation resources and expertise—including the Catalyst, Dr. Laura Perry Johnson, and the ECOP Program Action Team—supported the project’s development, collaboration, and reach across the Cooperative Extension System.
The project frames cybersecurity as part of good farm management. Connected equipment, online accounts, and digital records support essential operations, but cyber incidents can disrupt work, block access to records, or redirect payments. The CyberPest Management approach encourages farmers to inventory their digital assets, prevent problems, monitor for warning signs, and prepare to respond and recover.
Read the full article from our Around the South Newsletter - September Issue