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Monsanto Data Farming Unit Suffers Security Breach

(Flickr)

Monsanto Corporation has reported a security breach in its Precision Planting unit, putting some farmers’ credit card and tax information at risk.

The world’s largest seed company sent a letter to the attorney general of Maryland, accordinga report by Bloomberg News. Monsanto said personal information of 14 residents may have been accessed.

The company told the attorney general in the letter that the breach was discovered March 27. Monsanto officials said they don’t believe the unauthorized access was an attempt to steal customer information.

As agribusiness companies such as Monsanto and DuPont have rolled out new data services this spring, farm organizations have raised concerns about privacy. Read more here about those concerns in a special report aired earlier this month by St. Louis Public Radio’s Maria Altman and Véronique LaCapra. 

Follow Maria on Twitter: @radioaltman

Maria is the newscast, business and education editor for St. Louis Public Radio.