South Iowa News

Representatives Zach Nunn of Iowa and Don Davis of North Carolina have introduced the Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to protect Iowa's agricultural economy from cyber threats by utilizing the expertise of land-grant universities, including Iowa State University.

The proposed bill plans to establish five Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers across the United States. These centers will focus on improving readiness against cyberattacks, enhancing response capabilities, and speeding up recovery efforts within the agriculture sector.

"Iowa feeds the nation and that makes our farms and cooperatives a prime target for cyberattacks," stated Rep. Nunn. He added that hackers have previously disrupted grain handling and meat processing operations with minimal effort, posing significant risks to American agricultural technology and food supply security. By collaborating with institutions like Iowa State University, he emphasized the importance of protecting America's farmers, who are crucial to the nation's economy.

As modern agriculture increasingly depends on digital technologies for various processes such as planting, harvesting, livestock monitoring, and food distribution, it faces heightened risks from cyberattacks targeting these systems. Notably, ransomware attacks in 2021 affected Iowa's NEW Cooperative and Minnesota's Crystal Valley Cooperative, causing operational disruptions and supply chain threats. Additionally, a cyberattack on JBS in the same year led to temporary shutdowns across North America.

Rep. Davis highlighted cybersecurity threats as a major concern for agriculture and rural communities: "Our local farms need cybersecurity protections to continue operating." He stressed collaboration with top-tier university systems in North Carolina as essential for providing reliable partnerships against cyber threats.

The Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act seeks to address these growing challenges directly through its outlined measures.