Ransomware Attacks on Ag and Over 15,000 USDA Employees Leave
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**There were 84 ransomware attacks against the food and agriculture industry in the first three months of 2025, more than twice than during the same period last year.
The Record reports more than three-quarters of the attacks happened in January and February, with ransomware already accounting for 53% of cyberattacks.
Targeting by ransomware gangs has ramped up since the fourth quarter of last year due to new file sharing software.
**More than 15,000 USDA employees have taken one of the
Trump administration's two financial incentive offers to leave the agency, according to a USDA report seen by Reuters, about 15% of USDA's total workforce.
The Trump administration has offered federal employees several months of pay and benefits if they leave their jobs in his effort to shrink the federal workforce.
Employees over 40 were given more time to decide.
**Pessimism is growing as the latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows most are concerned President Trump’s stance on trade could push agriculture deeper into a recession.
72% say the row crop side of agriculture is in a recession, up from 62% last month.
82% of economists think this could force more consolidation in agriculture.
42% say the current ag economy is “somewhat worse” than a month ago, while 26% say it’s unchanged.
