Latest Agribusiness Headlines
All the headlines from our Agribusiness Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
The Four C’s of Risk Management for the Oil and Gas Operator – Contracts
Nov 20 2005 // In the first article of this series we discussed the importance of the retail broker reading, studying and comprehending the various contracts that control the oil and gas operator’s world. There are two areas of...
NPR Details Crop Insurance Fraud
Nov 14 2005 // In a detailed new investigation, National Public Radio examined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent allegations that some farmers across the country cheated the U.S. Treasury and insurers out of $160 million...
PAULA Financial Unveils Q3 Numbers; Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
Nov 14 2005 // California-based PAULA Financial has reported net income for the third quarter of 2005 of $218,000 or $0.03 per share compared to $142,000 or $0.02 per share for the 2004 period. For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2005,...
Illinois Financer Provides Crop Insurance to African Farmers
Nov 14 2005 // Opportunity International, a global microfinance network based in Oak Brook, Ill., today announced its partnership with the World Bank and its affiliated IFT Commodity Management Group to provide index-based weather...
News Briefs
Nov 6 2005 // California CDI Amends Proposed “Action Notice” Filing Regulations The California Department of In-surance has deleted a section of proposed regulations that would have required insurers to notify CDI when a...
Mississippi Farm Bureau Downgraded by A.M. Best
Nov 4 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B (Fair) from A- (Excellent) of Mississippi Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Jackson, Miss. The rating remains under review with negative...
GAO Blasts RMA in Crop Insurance Fraud Study
Nov 3 2005 // Inspections conducted by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) are not being used for maximum effect, according to a study released yesterday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). In “Crop Insurance: Actions...
