Latest Agribusiness Headlines

All the headlines from our Agribusiness Topic Page, ordered by recency.

PENNSYLVANIA LIMITS HORSE STABLES’ LIABILITY

Jan 2 2006 // Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has signed a bill limiting lawsuits against the owners of horse stables. Supporters say the legislation, which goes into effect in 60 days, was crucial to protect the state’s nearly $10...

Okla. Senators Say More Money Needed for Rural Fire Departments

Dec 30 2005 // Oklahoma State Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and two members of his leadership team said they agree with Assistant Majority Leader Jeff Rabon that something needs to be done immediately to address the needs of...

USDA: $200 Million for Fla. Agriculture Hurt by Hurricanes

Dec 30 2005 // The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated at least $200 million (euro168 million) for Florida growers and farmers who suffered losses from the 2005 hurricanes, officials said. The funds were included in last...

Texas Farm Bureau VP Elected Chairman of ICT

Dec 30 2005 // The Insurance Council of Texas has elected James Langford, chairman of the board of directors beginning Jan. 1, 2006. Langford is the assistant vice president of compliance, regulatory and governmental affairs and training...

Washington Minimum Wage Increasing 28 Cents

Dec 29 2005 // Washington’s minimum wage will increase 28 cents to $7.63 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2006. The Department of Labor and Industries recalculates the state’s minimum wage each year in September, as required by...

Pa. Limits Liability of Horse Stable Owners

Dec 27 2005 // Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has signed a bill limiting lawsuits against the owners of horse stables. Supporters say the legislation, which goes into effect in 60 days, was crucial to protect the state’s nearly $10...

Insurers Warned about Bird Flu “Species Jump”

Dec 22 2005 // Even as new reports of deaths caused by the bird flu virus are coming in from Indonesia and Vietnam, the insurance industry received an additional warning about its potential exposures. An article on the Lloyd’s...

Farmers Offers Tips on Keeping Homes Safe During the Holidays

Dec 21 2005 // While the holidays are a time for rejoicing, they also present an opportunity for thieves, as homes are filled with new, often expensive gifts. A recent survey shows that homeowners often neglect to take preventive action...

MISS. FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE DISSOLVING

Dec 19 2005 // Jackson-based Mississippi Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance has an-nounced that the strain of paying $450 million in claims after Hurricane Katrina has caused the company to cease writing policies in the state and transfer...

E. Coli Outbreak Traced to Wash. Dairy that Defied Raw Milk Sales Ban

Dec 16 2005 // An outbreak of E. coli bacteria that has sickened 11 or more people, four critically, has been linked to a dairy that was ordered by Washington state in August to stop selling raw milk. Dee Creek Farm in Woodland, Wash.,...

Pennsylvania Sets Up Farm Risk Management Program

Dec 13 2005 // Pennsylvania is setting up programs to help educate some 4,000 farmers about crop insurance and risk management issues. Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff announced that Pennsylvania won a $754,000 grant from the U.S....

Tenn. Adjuster Awaits Sentencing in Faked Crop-Loss Scam

Dec 9 2005 // An East Tennessee insurance claims adjuster is awaiting sentencing in a crop loss insurance scam. The agent who sold multimillion-dollar crop insurance policies to tomato farmers who faked a hailstorm has been sentenced to...

EsSix in La. to Provide Agents Access to Farmers’ Products

Dec 7 2005 // The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies and EsSix agency in Baton Rouge, La., announced they have joined forces to allow Louisiana agents a way to write Farmers business through EsSix. “We are really looking forward...

The Four C’s of Risk Management for Oil and Gas Operator – Managing Contracts

Dec 5 2005 // Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series on risk management for oil and gas operators. The first article appeared in the Aug. 22, 2005, issue of Insurance Journal West region edition on page 66. In the...

The Four C’s of Risk Management for Oil and Gas Operator – Managing Contracts

Dec 4 2005 // Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series on risk management for oil and gas operators. The first article appeared in the Aug. 22, 2005, issue of Insurance Journal West region edition on page 66. In the...

South Financial Group Acquires Lossing Insurance Agency of Ocala, Fla.

Dec 2 2005 // The Lossing Insurance Agency, an independent agency based in Ocala, Fla. has been acquired by the South Financial Group Inc. of Greenville, S.C. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition gives The South...

Best Affirms FSR for Foremost

Dec 1 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) of Foremost Corporation Group (Foremost) (Caledonia, Mich.). The rating outlook is stable. The rating reflects Foremost’s strong risk-adjusted...

Lloyd’s Offers Poultry Farmers Coverage for Bird Flu

Nov 25 2005 // Heath Lambert has launched a facility to protect poultry farmers against avian flu (also known as bird flu). The exclusive facility, broked by the company’s specialist London market operation, FSJ, is 100%...

Katrina Losses Cost Miss. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance $450M; Policies Being Transferred to S. Farm Bureau Casualty

Nov 23 2005 // Jackson-based Mississippi Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance has announced that the strain of paying $450 million in claims after Hurricane Katrina has caused the company to cease writing policies in the state and transfer...

The Four C’s of Risk Management for the Oil and Gas Operator – Contracts

Nov 21 2005 // (Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles on risk management for oil and gas operators. The first appeared in the Aug. 22, 2005, issue of Insurance Journal–Texas/South Central.) In the first...