Latest Agribusiness Headlines
All the headlines from our Agribusiness Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Iowa’s Farm Bureau Mutual Plans to Convert to Stock P/C Insurer
Sep 17 2009 // The board of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. in West Des Moines, Iowa, has approved a plan to reorganize into a mutual holding company structure. The plan is subject to approvals by the Iowa Insurance Commissioner and the...
Texas Farmers Eligible for Federal Drought Aid
Sep 16 2009 // Texas farmers and ranchers with livestock grazing losses due to drought or fire can seek federal help. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says producers may begin applying for benefits under the Livestock Forage Disaster...
Building of Unique Disaster Research Facility in South Carolina Begins
Sep 16 2009 // The property/casualty insurance industry today officially broke ground for the building of a disaster safety research center in Chester County, South Carolina. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) said its...
Swiss Re Cites Report on Developing Countries Climate Change Costs
Sep 15 2009 // A report, published on Swiss Re’s web site from the Economics of Climate Adaptation Working Group, indicates that climate risks could cost nations up to 19 percent of their GDP by 2030, with developing countries most...
Calif. Workers’ Comp Fund Sale Faces Many Hurdles
Sep 7 2009 // In a move that was not completely unexpected, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner will file a lawsuit to have the $1 billion sale of State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) assets declared...
Coastal Home Owners Face Huge Losses from Rising Seas
Sep 3 2009 // Australians Lesley and Doug McGrath have for decades battled ocean swells that have eaten away at the backyard of their multi-million dollar Sydney home. They bought an old beach shack on Collaroy Beach in 1976 and...
Doha Round Talks Now an ‘End-Game’ Says Australian Trade Minister
Sep 3 2009 // The World Trade Organization’s Doha round to free up trade is nearly complete and world leaders are voicing the political will to reach a deal next year, Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean said on Wednesday. But...
Farmers Gives California Fire Victims Assistance Number
Aug 31 2009 // Farmers Insurance Group of Companies asks its customers suffering damage or ordered to evacuate because of the widespread wildfires in Northern and Southern (Los Angeles County areas), to immediately contact Farmers’...
California Insurance Chief Poizner Sues to Block Workers’ Comp Fund Sale
Aug 28 2009 // In a move that was not completely unexpected, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that he will file a lawsuit to have the $1 billion sale of State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) assets declared...
Farm Workers Sue New Mexico for Workers’ Compensation Coverage
Aug 27 2009 // Two organizations that provide services to farm workers and two injured farm workers want the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration to stop excluding farm and ranch workers from coverage. HELP-New Mexico,...
Michigan’s Farmers’ Mutual Downgraded
Aug 13 2009 // Rating organization A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B- (Fair) from B (Fair) and issuer credit rating to “bb-” from “bb” of Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Co., based in...
Two Typhoons Slam into Eastern Asia; Powerful Earthquake Strikes Japan
Aug 10 2009 // Typhoon Morakot wreaked havoc in Taiwan over the weekend, making landfall late on Friday in Taiwan’s Hualien County with sustained winds of 148 km/h (92 mph). “As of Friday, Morakot had generated only 100 mm (4...
2008 Losses Lead to Record Insurance Payments to Midwest Farmers
Aug 3 2009 // The National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) trade group says a record $8.6 billion in crop insurance indemnity payments has been distributed to U.S. farmers for crop losses in 2008, and a lot of that money went to farmers...
People
Aug 3 2009 // Will Weston, vice president and principal of Blanchard & Calhoun Insurance Agency in Augusta, was elected president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia, Inc. (IIAG) during the association’s recent...
2008 Losses Lead to Record Insurance Payments to Midwest Farmers
Jul 22 2009 // The National Crop Insurance Services trade group says a record $8.6 billion in crop insurance indemnity payments has been made to U.S. farmers for crop losses in 2008, and a lot of that money went to farmers in the...
Disaster Aid Sought for Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers
Jul 22 2009 // Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry is seeking federal disaster designation for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers hit hard by extreme weather conditions the past 10 months. Henry said he made the request in a letter to Agriculture...
Farmers Insurance Launches Fire Prevention Campaign
Jul 21 2009 // Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is joining with San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association, Office of Emergency Services and Volunteer San Diego to sponsor a public/private partnership to launch a wildfire prevention...
Asia-Pacific Nations Decry First-world Protectionist Policies
Jul 21 2009 // Some Asia-Pacific nations criticized U.S. and other developed world protectionism on Tuesday at a meeting aimed at spurring a global trade pact and revitalizing the global economy. Thai Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai,...
Wells Fargo Names Norick Practice Leader – Special Risks National Equine
Jul 10 2009 // Wells Fargo Insurance Services has named Joseph Norick, based in Sherman Oaks, Calif., vice president and practice leader for Wells Fargo Special Risks’ National Equine Group. He is responsible for operations,...
S&P Lowers AIG’s Personal Lines Subs, 21st Century Ratings
Jul 9 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on the personal lines operating insurance units of 21st Century Insurance Group and American International...
