Latest Agribusiness Headlines
All the headlines from our Agribusiness Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Affirms Ratings of Endurance Specialty and Subs; Outlook Stable
Apr 10 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. and its affiliates, as well as the ICR...
U.S. Aims to Reshape World Trade Rules with Regional Pacts Says VP Biden
Apr 10 2013 // The United States hopes to use a proposed regional free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific and another with the European Union to reshape global rules for trade, Vice President Joe Biden said on Friday. “Our goal is...
Analysts Say Asia-Pacific Trade Talks Could Stretch Well into 2014
Apr 4 2013 // Free-trade talks between the United States and 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region could stretch into late next year, especially if Japan joins the negotiations, former U.S. trade officials said on...
Georgia Residents Recall Tornado of 40 Years Ago
Apr 3 2013 // Like many people who lived in Athens, Georgia at the time, Anne Shepherd clearly remembers March 31, 1973 — the day the tornado hit. Shepherd, owner of downtown’s Chick Music store, had gone out to a house on North...
Insurance Covered Half of U.S. Disaster Costs in 2012: Swiss Re
Mar 27 2013 // Natural catastrophes and man-made disasters caused $186 billion in economic losses globally in 2012 and took approximately 14,000 lives, according to global insurer Swiss Re’s latest sigma study. The United States...
Swiss Re Study for 2012 Losses: $77 Bn Insured; $186 Bn Economic
Mar 27 2013 // Swiss Re has released its latest sigma study, which found that economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters reached $186 billion in 2012. Insured losses amounted to $77 billion, making 2012 the third...
Record Crop Claims Fuel Debate Over Government Subsidies for Farmers
Mar 25 2013 // Farmers will be paid a record $16 billion in crop insurance claims for 2012 because of the widespread drought, a staggering amount that has critics calling for changes to what they say is an inefficient taxpayer subsidy...
Farmers Brace for Crop Insurance Cuts
Mar 25 2013 // U.S. farm groups are looking for a formula to lower crop subsidy spending dramatically ahead of new congressional demands for cuts in a farm bill now costing $10 billion more than planned. The cuts could be larger than the...
Gowrie Group Names Equine Insurance Specialist in Rhode Island
Mar 21 2013 // Gowrie Group, an independent insurance agency based in Westbrook, Conn., appointed Kiley Prime as a personal lines and equine insurance specialist. She resides in Newport, R.I., and will service clients from the Newport...
Senate Votes $55M to Avoid Meat Inspector Layoffs
Mar 21 2013 // U.S. Senators agreed to shift $55 million in funds within the Agriculture Department on Wednesday to avert the layoff of all U.S. meat inspectors this summer due to federal budget cuts. On a voice vote, the Senate adopted...
Report: Japan PM Abe’s Pacific Trade Pact Gambit Pays Off, for Now
Mar 18 2013 // Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s first politically risky step of declaring the country’s intent to join talks on a U.S.-led Pacific Rim free trade pact appears to be paying off as his record high...
RAA: U.S. Reinsurers Had Higher Profits, Improved Underwriting Results in 2012
Mar 15 2013 // The Reinsurance Association of America (RAA) said a group of 19 U.S.-based property/casualty reinsurers reported higher net written premiums and net income for 2012 compared to 2011. The RAA said Thursday that a survey of...
USDA Suspends Some Ag Reports Due to Budget Cuts
Mar 15 2013 // The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s statistical arm said it won’t issue some agricultural reports this year because of automatic federal budget cuts, alarming some in the dairy industry who fear the...
Willis Launches Insurance Program for Dairy Farm Industry
Mar 14 2013 // Willis Programs, a specialty business unit of Willis Group Holdings, the global insurance broker, has introduced a customized insurance product for dairy operations. DairyProtector is designed for dairy farms with cows...
Indiana Crop Insurance Payouts for ’12 Losses Top $1B
Mar 14 2013 // Indiana crop insurance payouts for losses during last year’s drought have reached a record $1 billion. Purdue University said that Indiana farmers have received the payouts for 2012 corn, soybean and wheat losses....
Recent Storms Ease Drought in Middle of United States
Mar 13 2013 // Recent rain and snowstorms have eased the grip of the worst U.S. drought in decades in portions of the nation’s midsection, swelling some major inland rivers to near flood stage and drenching some farmland enough to...
Feds Bust $100M North Carolina Crop Insurance Fraud Scheme
Mar 13 2013 // Federal investigators have unraveled a massive scheme among dozens of insurance agents, claims adjusters, brokers and farmers in eastern North Carolina to steal at least $100 million from the government-backed program that...
Farmers Brace for Crop Insurance Cuts
Mar 12 2013 // U.S. farm groups are looking for a formula to lower crop subsidy spending dramatically and end regional infighting ahead of new congressional demands for cuts in a farm bill now costing $10 billion more than...
Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Selects Smith as CEO-Elect
Mar 8 2013 // Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. has named Kimberly O. Smith as CEO-elect. Smith will assume the role of president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2014, upon the retirement of the company’s current president and CEO, Daniel...
Cut Crop Insurance Subsidy by $40 Billion, Say Fiscal Conservatives
Mar 5 2013 // A coalition of fiscal conservatives on Tuesday called for a steep cut in federal subsidies for crop insurance, setting up a clash with U.S. farm groups that see the program as their top priority in a new farm bill. Growers...
