Bites and Bytes Podcast Tracy Brunet on the Realities of Modern Ranching: From Land to Legacy to Tech
In this compelling episode of the Bites and Bytes Podcast, host Kristin Demoranville sits down with Tracy Brunet, cattle rancher, Canadian Ag media powerhouse, and host of The Impact Farming Show. Broadcasting from her family farm in Southeastern Manitoba, Tracy opens up about the realities of modern agriculture, including land pressures, succession planning, tech adoption, and how family farms are quietly being squeezed out.
Together, Kristin and Tracy examine how smart farming and digital innovation are reshaping the industry, for better or worse. They also unpack the rising threat of agroterrorism and cyber-physical attacks, as well as what happens when farm automation goes wrong. This isn’t your typical farm chat; it's real talk about the challenges and resilience of today’s producers.
Whether you're in ag, food, or tech, this conversation is packed with insights on business, legacy, and safeguarding our food system. Tracy’s passion for farming is contagious, and her straight-shooting perspective on the future of agriculture will leave you thinking long after the episode ends.
🎧 This is a sister episode to Tracy’s show, The Impact Farming Show—you can also watch our whole conversation on their YouTube channel: Watch here.
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🎙️ Guest Information: Tracy Brunet
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-brunet-53a204b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracymbrunet/
Farm Marketer: https://www.farmmarketer.com/
🎙️ The Impact Farming Show:
The Impact Farming Show is a podcast produced by Farm Marketer, created specifically for Canadian farmers who want to thrive in the business of farming. Hosted by Tracy Brunet, a cattle rancher and the CEO of Farm Marketer, the show features conversations with leading farm advisors and industry experts. Each episode offers practical advice on topics like succession planning, financial management, mental health, and the latest in ag innovation. Designed for busy farmers on the move, the show aims to provide insights that help them build successful, resilient farms and pass them on to the next generation.
- Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@farmmarketer3270
- Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/impact-farming/id1409740089
- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0UwMzcGCuFKkvlzJgOmhRl?si=00dacd734e1840c3
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🎯 Episode Key Highlights
(00:14:05) – Land Developers, Pressure, and Displacement of Family Farms
(00:19:17) – Succession Planning & Inheritance Struggles in Ag
(00:24:48) – What Happens When Cyber Risk Hits the Ranch
(00:35:55) – Real Incidents: Cyber Attacks on Dairy & Meat Industries
(00:42:59) – The Risk of Connected Equipment & Smart Tech on the Farm
(00:47:34) – Agroterrorism & Espionage: The Physical-Digital Crossover
(00:55:12) – When Cyber Attacks Lead to Loss of Life on Farms
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Show Notes:
🔗 Resources and Further Reading
Farm Succession Planning
- Passing Down The Family Farm with Clint Fischer | Episode 240
Tracy discusses the intricacies of farm transition planning with Clint Fischer, emphasizing the importance of early and strategic planning.
Watch the episode
- TOP 10 Farm Transition Planning Mistakes with Tracy Brunet
An insightful episode where Tracy outlines common pitfalls in farm succession planning and offers practical advice to avoid them.
Watch the episode
Precision Agriculture
- Benefits and Evolution of Precision Agriculture
An overview by USDA ARS on how precision agriculture tools enhance farming efficiency and sustainability.
Read the article
- Precision Agriculture in the Digital Era
A report detailing recent trends in the adoption of precision technologies on U.S. farms.
Access the report
Cybersecurity in Agriculture
- Ransomware Attack Paralyzes Milking Robots—Cow Dead
An incident highlighting the real-world consequences of cybersecurity breaches in agriculture.
Read the article
- Why the Food & Agriculture Industry Needs Cyber Insurance
An overview of how cyber insurance can safeguard farming operations against digital threats.
Download the PDF
Agroterrorism and Food Security
- Agroterrorism: Threats to America's Economy and Food Supply
An FBI investigation into the threats posed by agroterrorism to the agricultural sector.
Read the article
- Agroterrorism & Cyber Threats: How Farms Are Under Attack
In this episode of the Bites and Bytes Podcast, we discuss deliberately targeting farms, livestock, and food supply chains to incite fear, economic damage, or ideological change.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
JBS Ransomware Attack (2021)
- A cyberattack in the meat industry was used to illustrate how digital risks can halt real-world production.
- BBC Article
BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy)
- Also known as "mad cow disease." Tracy mentions that the outbreak stalled their early plans to start a beef ranch.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency: BSE Overview
Lab-Grown Meat and Food Technology
- Foods Produced Using Animal Cell Culture Technology
Information from the FDA on the development and regulation of lab-grown meat products.
Download the PDF
Solar Flare & GPS Disruption in Precision Ag
- Tractor GPS knocked out by Solar Flares during Harvest 2024
- NASA Overview
Cutting Horses
- The term "cutting horses" refers to agile saddle horses trained to separate individual animals from a herd of cattle. They possess an innate ability called "cow sense," allowing them to anticipate and respond to a cow's movements without direct guidance from the rider. This skill is essential in cutting competitions, where the horse must prevent a separated cow from returning to the herd. Wikipedia
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💡 Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2025 Stakeholders Summit
If you enjoyed our episode on agroterrorism and cyber threats to farms, featuring the Animal Agriculture Alliance, here’s another opportunity to explore critical conversations about our food system. And if you haven’t listened yet, check it out here:
🎙 Episode Link: Agroterrorism & Cyber Threats – How Farms Are Under Attack
📢 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
The 2025 Stakeholders Summit, happening April 30 – May 2 in Arlington, VA, will bring together industry leaders from farms, food processing, retail, and more to discuss sustainability and the future of animal agriculture. This year’s theme, “Food for Thought: Dishing on Sustainability,” focuses on collaboration and innovation to shape the future of food production.
Reserve your seat at the table—register by April 25!
🔗 Learn more and register: 2025 Stakeholders Summit
🔗 About the Animal Agriculture Alliance: AnimalAgAlliance.org
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🛡️ About AnzenSage & AnzenOT
AnzenSage is a women-owned cybersecurity advisory firm specializing in security resilience for the food, agriculture, zoo, and aquarium industries. AnzenSage offers practical, strategic guidance to help organizations anticipate risks and build resilience. Their services include:
- Security Resilience Advisory
- Security Resilience Assessments
- Security Awareness & Training
- Exercise, Drill & Scenario Workshops
Learn more about their offerings at anzensage.com.
AnzenOT
Industrial Cyber Risk — Simple. Smart. Swift.
AnzenOT is the SaaS risk management platform built to bring clarity and control to Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity. Designed for critical infrastructure sectors, AnzenOT translates technical risk into clear, actionable insight for decision-makers.
Key features include:
- AI-powered analytics
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Explore the platform at anzenot.com
For demo requests or inquiries, email stuart@anzenot.com or kristin@anzenot.com