Latest Agribusiness Headlines
All the headlines from our Agribusiness Topic Page, ordered by recency.
El Nino Weather Pattern Increasing Says Australian Weather Bureau
Jul 8 2009 // The development of an El Nino weather pattern is increasing and at this stage may be a medium-strength event, but it could take months for it to be officially declared, Australia’s weather bureau said. “We are...
Farmers Insurance Offers Green Homeowners Product in Texas
Jul 6 2009 // Los Angeles-based The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is offering a new eco-friendly product for its Texas customers wishing to ‘go green”. Called “Eco-Rebuild”, the new endorsement will...
Farmers Acquisition of 21st Century Insurance Finalized
Jul 2 2009 // Los Angeles-based The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies has completed the acquisition of 100 percent of AIG’s U.S. Personal Auto Group, which includes 21st Century Insurance. In addition to 21st Century Insurance,...
AIG Finalizes Sale of U.S. Personal Auto Insurance Units to Farmers
Jul 1 2009 // American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has closed the sale of 21st Century Insurance Group, the wholly owned subsidiaries of AIG’s U.S. personal auto insurance business, to Farmers Group, Inc. (FGI), a subsidiary...
Index Insurance Seen Helping Poor Farmers Cope with Global Warming
Jun 26 2009 // A new form of insurance that covers risks such as droughts or floods could help small farmers in developing countries cope with worsening impacts of global warming, a U.N. backed report said on Wednesday. Under...
North Dakota Wants Change to Forage Insurance
Jun 24 2009 // North Dakota’s top agriculture official is asking the federal government to consider adding another wrinkle to a new insurance program that pays ranchers based on rainfall or the greenness of their pastures. The Risk...
Groups Lobby for Wisconsin Driver’s Card for Immigrants
Jun 24 2009 // Allowing illegal immigrants to qualify for special driver’s cards would make the roads safer, reduce insurance rates and generate much-needed revenue for state government, supporters of the proposal said. Supporters...
Farmers Insurance Bringing 1,600 New Jobs to Michigan
Jun 16 2009 // Farmers Insurance Group of Companies will build two new buildings and add an estimated 1,600 new jobs at its location in Caledonia, Michigan. The company said that the development is attributable in part to an attractive...
Nebraska Officials Propose Grain-Insurance Fund; Growers Skeptical
Jun 12 2009 // Nebraska officials are moving forward with a plan to establish a multimillion-dollar insurance fund to protect farmers when grain warehouses go broke, following the financial collapse of an elevator last year. But major...
Poultry Companies Balk at Oklahoma AG’s Settlement in Lawsuit
Jun 11 2009 // A now-defunct poultry company got a better deal in settling an environmental lawsuit with the state because it was first to negotiate an agreement, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has suggested. But one poultry...
Katz Named CEO of American Agricultural Insurance Co.
Jun 8 2009 // The American Agricultural Insurance Company (AAIC), based in Schaumburg, Ill., has appointed Janet S. Katz as the company’s new executive vice president and chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2009. Katz is a...
Obama Administration Steps Up Financial Reform Drive
Jun 4 2009 // The Obama administration stepped up its push for tougher bank and financial firm rules Thursday, scheduling a briefing for lobbyists, with a focus on insurance oversight, and sending a top regulator to a Senate hearing to...
Premium Growth: Top 25 Premium Gainers in 2008 Versus 2007
Jun 1 2009 // What is the impetus for growth? Why do some insurers emphasize growth and others do not? In his Sept. 25, 1961, address to the United Nations, President John F. Kennedy described conformity as “the enemy of...
It Figures
Jun 1 2009 // $5 Million The estimated cost of repairs and clean-up at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale as a result of high winds that tore through the campus in May. Much of that total will go to fix broken windows and roof...
Farmers Promotes Sadler to President of Bristol West Holdings
May 22 2009 // Robert Sadler, chief financial officer of Bristol West Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Farmers Group Inc., has been promoted to president of Bristol West. Sadler joined Bristol West Holdings Inc. in 2001 as senior vice...
Farmers Group Names Ceglar Executive VP and General Counsel
May 20 2009 // Frank Ceglar has been promoted to the position of executive vice president and general counsel of Farmers Group Inc. Ceglar’s legal career with Farmers began in 1977 when he was hired as assistant corporate counsel....
Farmers Promotes Noonan to COO of Business Insurance Unit
May 19 2009 // Simon Noonan, senior vice president and president of Bristol West Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Farmers Group Inc., has been promoted to chief operating officer of Farmers Business Insurance. Noonan joined Bristol West...
A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Oklahoma Farm Bureau Group
May 19 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B++ (Good) from A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings to ‘bbb+’ from ‘a-‘ of Oklahoma Farm Bureau Group and its members, Oklahoma...
Seattle, Washington and Metropolitan Area Most Secure Places to Live in U.S.
May 8 2009 // Those seeking a place to live, work or raise a family in a safe and secure environment should consider the Pacific Northwest, according to the fifth annual Most Secure U.S. Places to Live rankings from Farmers Insurance...
Zurich Q1 Net Income Down 75% to $362 Million
May 7 2009 // Zurich Financial Services reported that its first quarter net income decreased by 75 percent to $362 million, compared to the $1.427 billion it earned in the same quarter of 2008. Business operating profit fell by 40...
