Guest Blog by Alliy Sahagun, Gunnison County Electric Association
When Gunnison High School student and Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) member Paden Davis was assigned to select a project for his environmental science class, he knew he wanted to work on an assignment that would have lasting effects beyond the classroom and his grade.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management Program and the Colorado State University Extension signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize a partnership that details how these two critical state resources will work hand in hand during emergencies impacting Colorado’s agriculture communities.
Throughout October, we are joining the Food and Agriculture-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) to celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
In the 1980s, G.I. Joe: Real American Hero animated TV series concluded each cartoon episode with a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for children: “Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!”
Emergency preparedness and disaster management for a farm, ranch, or ag business follows that same mantra. If you know how to prepare, respond, and recover from an animal disease incursion or a natural disaster like flooding or wildfire, then you just need to follow your plan and act accordingly.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture has hired Dan Frazen to serve as the Agriculture Emergency Coordinator for Colorado, a position CDA created this year after approval by the legislature to build out the Department’s emergency response capabilities. In this new position, Frazen will lead the Department’s response to all-hazards incidents that impact agricultural communities and coordinate with other government agencies and stakeholders for all phases of disaster management.
The Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) is warning ag producers about cyber threats facing the food and agriculture sector.
As the state agency in charge of assessing and sharing threat-related information, the CAIC is cautioning those in the Food and Agriculture sector to review their systems for any potential vulnerabilities. Businesses that rely on technology-based solutions, such as precision agriculture or automated production processes, are especially vulnerable.