Latest Agribusiness Headlines

Mother-Daughter Team Arrested

Aug 22 2005 // Two Kern County farm labor contractors surrendered to authorities July 12 after a two-year investigation found that they had allegedly under-reported their business’ payroll by $1 million. The investigation began...

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Aug 22 2005 // The National Association of Government Labor Officials (NAGLO) during its 2005 summer conference elected Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Scott Brener president. With members from more than 30 U.S....

Increase in Midwestern Insured Crop Acres Eases Drought Threat

Aug 22 2005 // Farmers in Midwestern states like Kansas have more than doubled the acres they insure and tripled their dollar amount of coverage since 1989, according to recent statistics. It’s a trend that could mitigate financial...

Former Insurance Broker Pleads Guilty

Aug 22 2005 // The California Department of Insurance announced that Mark Jerome Gentry of Antioch, Calif., entered a guilty plea on June 23, 2005 to multiple counts of grand theft in the Contra Costa County Superior Court. Gentry was...

Zurich 1st Half Net up 21% to $1.799 Billion; Farmers Profit Up

Aug 18 2005 // Zurich Financial Services Group joined the parade of insurers reporting strong first half results. The Swiss-based Company, which also manages the Farmers Exchanges in the U.S., posted a net income of $1.799 billion, an...

Wisc. Gov. Doyle Signs Health Insurance Bill

Aug 16 2005 // Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle yesterday signed a bill designed to allow farmers and others who lack health insurance to join a cooperative that will negotiate health insurance plans on their behalf. A.B. 5 expands access to...

IIA San Antonio to Hold Farm/Ranch Seminar

Aug 2 2005 // The Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio announced that their August continuing education seminar will focus on farm and ranch exposures. The Aug. 11 seminar, “Insuring Farm & Ranch Exposures,” will...

Kansas Doubles Amount of Insured Crop Acres

Jul 29 2005 // Kansas farmers have more than doubled the insured acres in the state since 1989, tripling their dollar amount of coverage during the same time, according to a recently released study. The Associated Press reported that so...

Farm Misses Time to File Lawsuit in Damage to Crops

Jul 28 2005 // A judge dismissed a central Wisconsin farm’s lawsuit seeking to recover thousands of dollars in crop losses from an insurance company because the suit was filed days after a deadline, a state appeals court ruled. The...

AFG Sub Notes Plans to Purchase Farmers Crop Insurance Alliance

Jul 28 2005 // Ohio-based American Financial Group Inc. and Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance Company announced that they have executed a letter of intent to acquire the multi-peril crop insurance and the crop hail insurance businesses...

OneBeacon Sells National Farmers Union to QBE

Jul 27 2005 // OneBeacon Insurance Group in Boston has agreed to sell its National Farmers Union Property and Casualty Company (NFU) subsidiary to QBE Insurance Group for approximately $142 million, subject to adjustment based on closing...

Farmers Insurance Will Pay $9.9 Million

Jul 20 2005 // Farmers Insurance Group Inc. was ordered to pay $9.9 million to two women for failing to defend them against a neighbor who sued for an injury at their condominium complex. A Superior Court jury awarded the money to...

Jul 18 2005 // Majestic Insurance Company announced the appointment of David Porter to the new position of marketing manager for Southern California. Porter has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Majestic,...

No. Idaho Grass Growers Agree to Settle Field-Burning Lawsuit

Jul 18 2005 // Insurance companies for northern Idaho grass farmers have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by area residents over pollution from growers’ annual field burning. The amount of the settlement hasn’t...

Carney Operators Conned: Ky. Warns of Bogus Llyod’s Policies

Jul 15 2005 // Carnival and circus owners and others involved in the amusement industry are being warned to verify the status of insurance coverage, according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Office of...

Great American Names Standlee President of Equine Mortality Division

Jul 15 2005 // Cincinnati-based property/casualty insurer Great American Insurance Group announced that Kendel D. Standlee has been promoted to president of its equine mortality division. The division supports the largest equine...

Mother-Daughter Team Arrested for Calif. Workers’ Comp Scam

Jul 13 2005 // Two Kern County, California farm labor contractors surrendered to authorities July 12 after a two-year investigation found that they had allegedly under-reported their business’ payroll by $1 million. The...

Best Takes Various Actions on 52 Canadian P/C Insurers

Jul 11 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of 36 Canadian insurers, downgraded the ratings of four, upgraded the ratings of nine and assigned ratings to three Canadian property/casualty insurers. These...

Farmers, Allstate Take Top Honors at IMCA 2005 Showcase Awards; Insurance Journal Honored

Jul 6 2005 // Farmers Insurance Group received the top honor and Allstate Insurance Company received nine Best of Show awards at the Insurance Marketing Communications Association (IMCA) 2005 Showcase Awards, held during the IMCA annual...

Agents Oppose Crop Insurance Premium Reduction Plan

Jun 29 2005 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America testified Tuesday before a Senate committee on the ongoing question of the Premium Reduction Plan (PRP), which potentially opens the door for unqualified and...