The ransomware attack comes at a time U.S. agricultural
equipment makers were already facing persistent supply chain disruptions and
labor strikes that left them unable to meet equipment demand from farmers.
AGCO did not disclose the names of the facilities or if any
data was stolen, but said it was still probing the extent of the attack that
occurred on Thursday and working to repair its systems.
Tim Brannon, president and owner of B&G Equipment Inc in
Tennessee, told Reuters he has not been able to access AGCO's website for
ordering and looking up parts since Thursday morning.
"We just have to trust that it will be over as soon as
possible because we are coming into our busiest time of the year and it will be
very damaging to our business and customers," Brannon said.
AGCO, which competes with larger rival Deere & Co, sells
tractors and combines, manufactures and assembles products in 42 locations
worldwide with 1,810 dealerships in North America.
Dealers are now struggling to keep up with orders that were
already backlogged.
The company told dealers that it was
"prioritizing" the most business critical systems in an e-mail read
to Reuters by a dealer who declined to be identified.
"I've got about nine orders that I need to place right
now," said the dealer.
He said AGCO told him "digital systems" had been
impacted worldwide.
AGCO did not respond to requests for additional comment.
Ransomware attacks have targeted food and fuel companies in
the United States in recent years, including the Colonial Pipeline's oil
network and meat processing company JBS. Last autumn, at least three grain
handlers in the Midwest were hit with ransomware attacks.
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