DULUTH, GEORGIA, US – AGCO, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, announced that on May 5 it was subject to a ransomware attack that has impacted some of its production facilities.

AGCO said it is still investigating the extent of the attack, but it is anticipated that its business operations will be adversely affected for several days and potentially longer to fully resume all services depending upon how quickly the company is able to repair its systems.

AGCO did not name the facilities that had data stolen. The company, whose subsidiaries includes GSI, an Assumption, Illinois, US-based manufacturer of commercial grain storage and handling equipment, said it will provide updates as the situation progresses.

The attack comes during corn and soybean planting season when tractors and other farm equipment are in high demand.

A report from CrowdStrike in 2021 noted that of the 160 computer hacking groups that the company tracks, 13 were identified as targeting the agriculture industry. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that at least eight hacks of agriculture companies occurred in the United States in 2021, including grain cooperatives in Iowa and Minnesota that were partially shut down for several weeks as the ransomware hackers demanded seven-figure payments to end their hacking operation.